564 MR. R. I. POCOCK ON THE BREEDING [May 15, 



position of the testicles in the human foetus suggests a month's 

 prematurity ; but in the Monkey, where development is more 

 rapid, it probably denotes a shorter period, perhaps about two or 

 three weeks. Hence assuming that the young Monkey under 

 discussion may have been premature by about that length of time 

 on March 1st*, and that conception occurred at some date in the 

 latter half of August, it may be concluded with some confidence 

 that the period of gestation in the Pig-tailed Macaque is not more 

 than seven and not less than six months. It does not appear to 

 me that the data furnished by the present case justify a more 

 exact estimate of its duration. The probability of the correctness 

 of this calculation is supported by R. B. Sdnydl'sf statement 

 that a female Oercopithecus cynosurus, in the Calcutta Gardens, 

 carried her young seven months. 



Parturition. 



The Pig-tailed Macaque in which parturition was observed 

 refused food during the day, and seemed to be generally low- 

 spirited and out of health. The precise time at which labour 

 began is imknown. The first indication that it was in progress 

 was the utterance of a scream by the mother late in the after- 

 noon. The birth, a case of foot-presentation, took place about 

 one hour afterwards. The Monkey remained seated on the perch 

 dui-ing this time, aiding the extrusion of the young with her 

 hands when a laboiir-pain supervened, and cleansing her offspring 

 with her hands and licking them afterwards in the intervals. 



Towards the end of the time, the contractions of the uterus 

 took place at intervals of about five minutes, the sci'eams and 

 moans .of the mother attesting the suffering she endured. The 

 concluding stages and the severance of the timbilical cord could 

 not be seen on account of darkness ; but the placenta was found 

 on the floor of the cage next morning detached from the yoving, 

 which was dead, with its head partially crushed, as if by a fall or 

 by being stepped upon. Whether the ci-ushing of the head by 

 either of these means was the cause of death, or whether the 

 mother let the dead body fall on its head from the perch to the 

 floor, is not known. 



If this had been the only case to sup^^ly data regarding par- 

 turition In Monkeys , the following inferences might have been 

 drawn : (1) that the process is painful ; (2) that it lasts for 

 about one hour ; (3) that the placenta is not devoured by the 

 mother. 



But, so far as the suffering is concerned, there is no evidence 



* I aaii not sure of the accuracy of this inference, because in the young male hybrid 

 bet'jveen II. rhesus and M. fascicularis, now living in the Gardens, the scrotum, 

 which is of large size, appeared to be empty at birth and the testicles inguinal in 

 position. The same appearance is presented b}' these organs now that the animal 

 is five weets old. 



t Quoted by W. L. Sclater, Mammals of S. Africa, p. 9. Blanford also says that 

 the period is about seven months in Indian Macaques (Fauu. Brit. India, Mamm. 

 p. 13). 



