THE VARIEGATED BABOON. 469 



short round ears, and a long tail. A native of Brazil and Guiana, 

 he derives his name from the following circumstance : one of these 

 creatures will climb to the summit of a lofty tree, while numbers 

 gather about the lower branches. The monkey perched above the 

 rest then raises a loud howl a howl so shrill and keen that it is 

 audible at a very great distance ; after a while he pauses, and gives 

 a signal with his hand, whereupon the entire assembly join in chorus ; 

 another signal, and the discord ceases, while the preacher or singer 

 concludes his inharmonious exercitation.* It is said that this howl- 

 ing faculty is due to the peculiar conformation of the os hyoides, or 

 throat-bone, which, communicating with the larynx, increases the 

 resonance of the voice. 



The Paters, or Red Monkey (Cercopithecus ruber), so called from 

 the bright bay colour of his upper parts, is a native of Senegal. 



In Congo and Guinea is found the frolicsome Spotted or Diana 

 Monkey (Cercopithecus Dianci), the upper parts of whose body are of 

 a reddish colour, besprinkled with white spots. 



The Mandrill, or Variegated Baboon (Cynocephalus maimori), is, 

 undoubtedly, the most notable of his genus, for various and brilliant 

 colours. When standing upright he measures fully five feet. His 

 body is thick and robust, his limbs are firm and muscular; scarcely 

 any forehead relieves the flatness of his long face ; the eyes are small 

 and deeply sunken in the large head ; the projecting cheek-bones are 

 marked with several deep furrows of purple, scarlet, and violet blue ; 

 both the abrupt muzzle and the lips are large and protuberant. The 

 hair of the forehead and temples rises in a kind of pyramid, which 

 gives to the head a triangular appearance; and from the chin hangs a 

 small pointed orange-yellow beard. His strength, moroseness, and 

 ferocity, render him a formidable opponent ; and as he prowls about 

 in large bands, it is dangerous for the natives to penetrate into the 

 woods, unless well-armed, and in numerous companies. 



* According to Humboldt, this is an exaggeration : the Howlers assemble in large 

 numbers, morning and evening, and join in a chorus of discords, but do not obey a presi- 

 dent or leader. 



