THE DIANA MONKEY. 



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It is a very graceful little creature, playful, but petulant and coquettish, disliking to 

 be touched, but fond of notice and nuts, and often balanced in curious perplexity be- 

 tween its coy shyness and the charms of an offered dainty. When in perfect health, it 

 is seldom still, but flits with light grace from one spot to another, performing the most 

 difficult muscular efforts with exquisite ease, and profoundly sensible of the admiration 

 which its pretty antics never fail to excite in the spectators. 



It is by no means a large animal, its head and body only measuring fifteen or sixteen 

 inches, the tail being little short of two feet in length. 



The central figure of the group is the PATAS, sometimes called the Red Monkey, on 

 account of the ruddy color of the hair. The general tint of the fur is a bright chestnut, 

 or fawn color, with a deep shading of red. This hue is shown very decidedly on the 

 sides and on the outer portions of the hind legs, the legs themselves being of a darkish 

 cream color. The breast and the fore-limbs are covered with hair, which much resembles 

 that of the Green Monkey. 



It is an inhabitant of Western Africa, being found very commonly in Senegal. In size 

 it is much superior to the last-mentioned animal, reaching more than three feet in length. 



When left to an undisturbed life, these creatures are playful and inquisitive, but 

 mischievous and spiteful withal. They display great courage when engaged in a fray, 

 and if their size and strength were proportionate to their bravery and endurance, would 

 be truly formidable antagonists. Even the fall of their comrades only seems to redouble 

 their rage, and to stimulate them to increased exertions. 



Too crafty to venture upon close combat, these monkeys retain their posts of vantage 

 on the tree tops, and hurling from thence every kind of offensive missile that can be 

 procured, render their attack a matter of exceeding inconvenience, even to armed men. 

 During the skirmish, the monkeys distort their features into strange grimaces, and rend 

 the air with their cries of rage. They have been known to follow boats up the course 

 of a river, keeping pace upon the overhanging trees, and becoming so troublesome from 

 the constant shower of sticks, fruits, and other missiles, that the occupants of the boats 

 were forced to fire at their assailants, and to kill many of the number before they could 

 be freed from the annoyance. 



This, as well as the foregoing long-tailed monkeys, belongs to that large group of 

 quadrumanous animals called the GUENONS, nearly all of which possess similar charac- 

 teristics of disposition. They are amusing and playful creatures, very active, and move 

 with much grace of deportment. In captivity they are remarkable for their mercurial 

 temperament, their ingenuity in devising and executing small malevolent pranks, and 

 their insatiable appetite for nuts, and other similar dainties. They are curiously sensi- 

 tive to ridicule, being thrown into furious excitement by any mocking gestures or sounds. 

 Nothing seems to irritate a monkey more than a grin and a chatter, in imitation of its 

 own habits. It will fly at the offender with furious looks and screams of rage, and, 

 unless restrained by chains or bars, would be likely to inflict some damage by its sharp 

 teeth. It will remember the person of its tormentor with singular tenacity of memory, and 

 will ever after be thrown into a state of angry agitation by the sound of the hated voice. 



Although rather tetchy and hot-tempered, and too apt to resent any supposed slight 

 or injury, the Guenons are very capable of education, and in the hands of a kind and 

 gentle teacher can be trained to perform many curious feats. Severity defeats its own 

 aim, and only makes the creature fall back upon the innate obstinacy which is 

 inherent in most animals, and of which the monkey has a large share. But a kind 

 instructor, and one who will never lose his own temper, may take in hand even a savage 

 monkey and reduce it to gentle obedience. As a general rule, the male monkeys are 

 less open to higher influences than the females, and are therefore more difficult subjects 

 for the trainer. 



Nearly all the long-tailed monkeys that come to England belong to the Guenons, and 

 the many anecdotes that are related of them may be safely attributed to this group of 

 animals. 



The monkey which is known by the name of the DIANA is remarkable not only for its 

 quaint aspect, but for the richly-variegated tints with which its fur is adorned. The most 

 conspicuous feature in the Diana Monkey, is the long and sharply-pointed beard which 

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