946 CAPT. T. IIUTTON ON THE GEOGRAPHICAL [NoV. 28> 



As there can be no doubt but the forest is the natural haunt 

 of this and other species, the fact of its being now so frequently 

 found in groves in the vicinity of towns and villages is owing chiefly, 

 if not entirely, to the veneration which often prompts the supersti- 

 tious natives to introduce the creature into such places, where they 

 are sure to be well fed and protected. This is clearly enough seen 

 in the case of the Kishnagur Monkeys above mentioned by Mr. 

 Blyth, which were introduced to that place many years ago by de- 

 votees, and have now increased and multiplied to such an extent 

 as to have become a perfect pest. This fact was lately reported in 

 • The Delhi Gazette' of the 2nd of March, 1807, wherein a letter 

 from a Calcutta correspondent states that a jjetition was presented 

 by a large number of the native community jiraying that measures 

 might be taken by the municipality to destroy some of the too nu- 

 merous Monkeys that infested the station, causing fearful liavoc 

 amongst the fruit and grain. An order was issued, and five hun- 

 dred Monkeys were killed. " There must be many thousands," 

 continues the writer ; " and all are descended from one pair originally 

 brought to Kishnagur and let loose. This was soon succeeded by 

 another petition from a different section of the native population, 

 for tlie cancelment of the order to kill what they described as their 

 long-deceased ancestors." 



The true Entellus does not occur at all in Ceylon, although such 

 has been stated to be the fact, but is entirely confined to the main- 

 land, the name of Hoonoomaun being applied in Ceylon to another 

 species, as it is on the continent of India to several others — and 

 hence, in part, the confusion that prevails in regard to the true range 

 of the Entellus. 



Sir Walter Elliot gives the measurements of an adult male from 

 the Southern Mahratta country as being, " from the muzzle to the 

 insertion of the tail 1 ft. 10| in. ; length of the tail 3 ft, 2| in.; 

 height from heel to crown 3 ft. 2^ in. ; weight 22 lbs." To this 

 Mr. Blyth adds the colours as " constantly black hands and feet ; 

 the forearm, and leg externally, with the croup are of a pale chocolat- 

 au-lait colour, extending more or less over the back, humerus, and 

 thigh ; and the rest is of a light straw-colour, or pale isabelline, 

 with occasionally a tinge of ferruginous on the belly." 



With regard to the distribution of the Entellus, the species is 

 entirely restricted by nature to the right or southern banks of the 

 Rivers Ganges and Jumna, the latter, as I think, bounding its northern 

 range. It thus occupies parts of the southern Gangetic provinces, 

 the Dukhun, and the Carnatic, down to the Malabar coasts, which 

 form together a wide triangular geographical area. It has, indeed, 

 been said to occur in Assau), which would carry it far across the Ganges 

 to the eastward ; but there is, I believe, no reliable instance on record 

 uf its having been procured from that eastern province. All that Mr. 

 Blyth ventures to say on the subject is, that he has been " assured of 

 its occurrence in Assam, tliough he never saw a specimen from that 

 province." I am therefore inclined to think that some otiier species, 

 probably Semnopithecus pileatus, has there been mistaken for it. 



