MACAQUES. 119 



anatomy, given by Galen, has been handed down to our own times. The name 

 Magot is of French origin, and was applied by Bufibn. 



This monkey is as large as a good-sized dog ; and the upper parts of its body, 

 and the outer sides of the limbs, are of a light yellowish-brown, becoming somewhat 

 deeper on the head, and also along a line bordering the cheeks. The under-parts 

 are of a dull yellowish- white, while the naked portions of the face, hands, and feet, 

 as well as the callosities on the buttocks, are flesh-coloured. The rudiment of the 

 tail consists merely of a little fold of skin, having no sort of connection with the 

 end of the backbone. 



One of the best early original accounts of the magot is given by the French 

 naturalist, Rene-Luiche Desfontaines, who resided for some time in Algeria, during 

 the closing decades of the last century. This writer observes that the magots 

 " live in troops in the forests of the Atlas Mountains nearest to the seashore, and 

 are so common at Stora that the surrounding trees are sometimes covered with 

 them. They live upon the cones of the pine, sweet chestnuts, and the figs, melons, 

 pistachio nuts, and vegetables which they steal from the gardens of the Arabs, in 

 spite of all the pains taken to exclude these mischievous animals. Whilst in the 

 act of committing these thefts, two or three detach themselves from the general 

 body, and keep watch from the tops of the surrounding trees or rocks ; and as soon 

 as these sentinels perceive the approach of clanger, they give warning to their 

 companions, who presently scamper off with whatever they have been able to lay 

 their hands on." 



The A military officer, formerly stationed at Gibraltar, writing in 1880, 



Gibraltar " Apes has given the following excellent account in the Field newspaper of the 

 of the Rock." ma g O ^ s a ^ that place. After stating that Gibraltar is the only 

 European locality where monkeys occur, the author observes, that young magots 

 " may frequently be seen in summer in the Moors' part of the market-place, brought 

 over from Barbary ; and, doubtless, the ancestors of the existing colony were similarly 

 imported. The census frequently taken by the sergeant in charge of the signalling 

 department gives their present number as twenty-five. . . . These apes were formerly 

 very numerous on the rock, and there were several gangs of them, but they were so 

 predaceous in their habits, coming down to the gardens in the upper part of the town, 

 and stealing fruit, especially figs, that they were killed by trap or poison, so as nearly 

 to bring about their extinction. In November 1856, a garrison order was published 

 for the guidance of the signalmaster," which forbade the destruction of the monkeys, 

 and gave directions as to their being counted at regular intervals. " From that time," 

 continues our author, " the register has been very regularly kept by the signalmaster. 

 There were only four or five at this time, and but three in 1863, when General Sir 

 W. Codrington, who was then governor, saved them from destruction by a fresh 

 importation from Africa, The following note occurs in the Journal of the 26th May 

 1863, ' Turned out four apes, wild from Barbary, two males and two females, all 

 young.' After some time the newcomers made friends with the apes of the old 

 stock ; and the band increased, but very slowly, however, owing to the great 

 preponderance of females, until the present time, and it may be expected, as the 

 signalmaster observes, now that there are two adult and rival males, that it will 

 divide. Those who wish to see them will do well to remember that their haunts 



