8 CATALOGUE. 



The only representative of this Semnopithec in the Company's Mu- 

 seum, is a specimen received from Calcutta with a large despatch from 

 the Asiatic Society. In the list of the curator, it is enumerated with 

 this name, and the specimen was ticketed with the same. It appears 

 to be about half-grown. Its history and character are as yet doubtful, 

 since it does not appear to be mentioned by Mr. Blyth in his various 

 contributions to the Journal of the Asiatic Society, and it remains to 

 be determined whether it be a distinct species, or a variety of some 

 other. The fur is soft and lengthened. The general colour above is 

 grayish-brown, darker on the shoulders, arms, and hands. The middle 

 of the back and the thighs are of a lighter tint, with a silvery reflection 

 in a certain light ; hence the name argentatus. Underneath it is yel- 

 lowish-white, and a large spot of the same colour extends from the 

 orbit of the eyes towards the ears. On the top of the head is a vertical 

 crest, and the superciliary ridge of black bristly hairs is also present. 

 On the tail, the grayish colour of the back becomes lighter, with a 

 stronger silvery gloss. The length of the head and body is one foot 

 three and a half inches ; that of the tail is the same. 



9. SEMNOPITHECUS JOHN 77, Fischer Sp. 



Simia Johnii, Fischer, Synopsis Mammalium, p. 25. 

 Semnopithecus cucullatus, Isidore Geoffroy, in Voyage de 

 Belanger, Suppl. 



HAB. The southern parts of the Peninsula of India. 



A. Presented by the late Dr. A. T. Christie, of Madras. 



B. Presented by the Asiatic Society of Bengal. 



M. John, formerly of the Danish factory, Tranquebar, gave the first 

 description of this species in " Neue Schriften der Gesellsch, naturf. 

 Freunde," I. p. 215, from a specimen discovered at Tellicherry. It 

 has since been found on the Coromandel Coast, near Madras, and also 

 in the interior of the Peninsula. It appears to be common in various 

 localities, but little is known of its manners. Mr. E. Blyth, in his 

 remarks on the Indian Semnotes (Journ. As. Soc. Beng. XII. p. 169), 

 gives the following information on the authority of Mr. Jerdon. " The 

 Semnopithecus Johnii is abundant in the dense woods of the Neilgher- 

 ries, and in the forests on the sides of the hills. I have also seen it in 

 the elevated district of the Wynaad, but only near the base of the 

 Neilgherries. It associates as usual in small herds, leaps with amazing 

 agility, and has a loud call like that of the entellus. The young are 

 perfectly black, with hardly an indication of the light-coloured hair of 



