THE WANDEROO. 61 



inclined to give it a place at the head of the Baboons, and assert that it forms the link 

 between them and the Macaques. 



To this decision they are led by the general physiognomy of this monkey, and by the 

 fact that the extremity of the tail is furnished with a brush. Still, the muzzle is not of 

 that brutal character which is so repulsively exhibited in the baboons, and the nostrils 

 are situated in their ordinary position, instead of being pierced at the extremity of the 

 muzzle. 



The Indian name of this animal is " Nilbandar," or more properly " Neel-bhunder," 

 the word being a composite one, and signifying a black Bhunder. 



This very singular animal is a native of the East Indies, and is found commonly 

 enough in Ceylon. The heavy mass of hair that surmounts the head and envelops the 

 entire face, gives it a rather dignified aspect, reminding the observer of the huge peruke 

 under whose learned shade the great legal chiefs consider judgment. The hair on the 

 top of the head is black, but the great beard that rolls down the face and beneath the 

 chin is of a gray tint, as if blanched by the burden of many years. In some instances 

 this beard is almost entirely white, and then the Wanderoo looks very venerable indeed. 



It is not a very mischievous animal in its wild state, and withdraws itself from the 

 habitations of men. When in captivity it is of a tetchy and capricious disposition, 

 sometimes becoming mild in its demeanor, and presently, without the least apparent 

 motive, bursting into a fit of passion, and indulging in all kinds of malicious tricks. 

 But, as is the case with so many of the monkey tribe, as the creature becomes older, it 

 loses the gentle part of its nature, and develops the brutality alone. Thus, a Wanderoo 

 may be quiet, docile, and even affectionate, at a year old, and appear quite a model of 

 monkey nature ; at two years of age the same animal will be full of lively caprice, at 

 times playful, and at times cross and savage ; while at full age, the creature will be surly, 

 inert, savage, and revengeful. 



From the form of the tail, which is of a moderate length, and decorated with a hairy 

 tuft at its extremity, the Wanderoo is also known by the name of the Lion-tailed Baboon. 



The greater part of the fur of this animal is of a fine black, but the color assumes 

 a lighter hue on the breast and abdomen. The callosities on the hinder quarters are of 

 a light pink. 



It is not a very large animal, being rather less than three feet from the nose to the tip 

 of the tail. 



The name Silenus is appropriate enough, for the white beard and whiskers bear some 

 resemblance to those facial ornaments attributed to the aged companion of the youth- 

 ful Bacchus. And the specific title of " Veter," signifying "old," is well earned by 

 the veteran aspect of the animal. The eye is a bright brown, and looks knowingly out 

 of the hairy mass, from which it peers inquisitively at the bystanders. 



Probably on account of the sapient mien, for which it is indebted to the mass of 

 circumfluous locks, the Wanderoo is considered by the inhabitants to be a personage of 

 great distinction among its own people. All other monkeys of the same land are said 

 to pay the most profound reverence to their bearded chief, and, in his presence, to 

 humble themselves as subjects before an emperor. 



When feeding, the Wanderoo has a discreet custom of filling its cheek pouches before 

 it begins to eat, thus laying up a provision against future emergencies before it has begun 

 to satisfy the actual present wants of hunger. This habit presents a curious analogy 

 with the peculiar stomach of the ruminating animals, when in the act of eating ; a portion 

 of the food passes into a series of pockets or pouches, where it is retained until the 

 creature is possessed of time and leisure for re-mastication. 



In its earlier youth, the Wanderoo is susceptible of education, and can be trained to 

 perform many ingenious tricks, preferring those of a grave and sedate cast to the mer- 

 curial and erratic accomplishments displayed by the generality of learned monkeys. 



