GUENONS. 97 



THE VERVET MOXKEY (Cercopithecus lalandi). 



Still better known than the malbrouck is the South African vervet monkey, 

 or black-chinned vervet, as it has been called, in which, as in all the other members 

 of this group of guenons, the rather small and narrow face is entirely black or 

 blackish. 



The fur of the vervet is of a greyish-green colour, finely speckled with black 

 on the greater part of the body. The face, hands, and feet, and the terminal third 

 of the tail, are of a deep black ; while the cheek, throat, and under parts of the 

 body are reddish- white, and the root of the tail and adjacent regions red. The band 

 on the forehead is distinct, and yellowish. The red root and black tip of the tail 

 and chin are absolutely distinctive of this species. 



In size the vervet is somewhat smaller than the mona mentioned hereafter. 

 With the exception of the samango monkey, it is the sole South African repre- 

 sentative of the guenons. It is common in forest districts throughout the Cape 

 Colony and adjacent regions, more particularly along the tract of coast extending 

 from Cape Town to Algoa Bay, and thence through Kaffraria and Natal. It is said 

 to feed chiefly on the gum from the acacias known to the Boers as camel-doorn 

 and rhinaster-bosh ; and its habits appear to be similar to those of the green 

 monkey. 



THE GRIVET MONKEY (Cercopithecus griseoviridis). 



As the vervet is one of two South African representatives of the guenons, so 

 the grivet is one of two members of the group found in North-Eastern Africa. 

 In colour the fur of this species is olive-green, speckled with yellow and black, 

 while the chin, whiskers, and under-parts of the body are white, and the root of 

 the tail and adjacent regions grey. The forehead has a broad whitish band, but 

 faintly marked. The white chin and grey root to the tail serve to distinguish 

 this monkey from the vervet, with which it agrees in size. 



Writing of the grivets in Abyssinia, Mr. Blanford observes that they are but 

 rarely seen, and then only in forest. " On the highlands," he states, " I only once 

 saw a flock this was near Dildi, south of Lake Ashangi. I met with large numbers 

 on the Anseba, where they inhabited the high trees on the banks of the stream. 

 The flocks seen were small, not exceeding twenty to thirty individuals. I had but 

 few opportunities of observing their habits, but they appeared to differ but little 

 from those of macaques, except that Cercopithecus is a quieter animal and less 

 mischievous. In captivity they are well known as excessively docile and good- 

 tempered, and fairly intelligent." 



THE GREEN MONKEY (Cercopithecus callitrichus). 1 



One of the commonest of the guenons usually to be seen in menageries is the 

 West African green monkey. The colour of the fur may be described as a mixture 

 of black and yellow, giving a general dark green hue to the upper parts ; the crown 



1 Frequently known as Cercopithecus sabceus. 

 VOL. I. 7 



