132 



ZOOLOGY. 



[PART II. 



few roads which wind through these deep solitudes. It 

 was first captured by Dr. Kelaart in the woods near 

 Neuera-ellia, and from its peculiar appearance it has 

 been named P. ur sinus by Mr. Blyth. 1 



3. The P. Thersites, which is chiefly distinguished from 

 the others by wanting the head tuft, is so rare that it was 

 for some time doubtful whether the single specimen pro- 

 cured by Dr. Templeton from Neuera-kalawa, west of 

 Trincomalie, and on which Mr. Blyth conferred this new 

 name, was in reality native ; but the occurrence of a 

 second, since identified by Dr. Kelaart, has established its 

 existence as a separate species. Like the common wan- 

 deroo, the one obtained by Dr. Templeton was partial to 

 fresh Vegetables, plantains, and fruit ; but he ate freely boiled 

 rice, beans, and gram. He was fond of being noticed and 

 petted, stretching out his limbs in succession to be scratched, 

 drawing himself up so that his ribs might be reached by 

 the linger, closing his eyes during the operation, and 

 evincing his satisfaction by grimaces irresistibly ludicrous. 



4. The P. Priamus inhabits the northern and eastern 

 provinces, and the wooded hills which occur in these 

 portions of the island. In appearance it differs both in 

 size and in colour from the common wanderoo, being 

 larger and more inclining to grey ; and in habits it is 

 much less reserved. At Jaffna, and in other parts of 

 the island where the population is comparatively nu- 

 merous, these monkeys become so familiarised with the 

 presence of man as to exhibit the utmost daring "and 

 indifference. A flock of them will take possession of 

 a Palmyra palm ; and so effectually can they crouch 

 and conceal themselves among the leaves that, on the 

 slightest alarm, the whole party becomes invisible in 

 an instant. The presence of a dog, however, excites 



1 Mr. Blyth quotes as authority 

 for this trivial name a passage from 

 MAJOR FORBES' Eleven Years in Cey- 

 lon ; and I can vouch for the graphic 

 accuracy of the remark. " A species 



of very large monkey, that passed 

 some distance before me, when rest- 

 ing on all fours, looked so like a 

 Ceylon bear, that I nearly took him 

 for one." 



