19 



Macacus arctoides, Geoff. 



By Rai Ram Brahma Sakyal, Bahaduk. 



The following facts, relating to the distribution of the Brown 

 stnmp-tailed monkey {Macacus arctoides) may throw further 

 light on the subject which, according to Blanford, is not well 

 ascertained. Sirice 1878, a number of live examples of this 

 species have, from time to time, been exhibited in the Zoological 

 Garden, Calcutta, affording me opportunities of taking careful 

 notes of their habitat and habits. It appears that the first speci- 

 men that came into the possession of the Garden from a well* 

 ascertained source was the one presented by the late Mr. McCabe, 

 for many years Deputy Commissioner of the Xaga hills. As far as 

 it is now remembered, this particular animal was owned as a pet 

 by one of the Angami N'agas, who were brought to Calcutta during 

 the International Exhibition of 1883-84, and whose clay model, I 

 presume, still adorns the Ethnological gallery of the Indian 

 Museum, In 1885, Surgeon-Major MuUane, then Superintendent 

 of the Gowhafi Jail, presented an exceptionally fine specimen of 

 M, arctoides, which he had procured from the Naga hills when 

 still very joung. The Garo hills and Sadya have also contributed 

 examples of this species to the Garden. Several specimens 

 captured within his own jurisdiction were presented by the Raja 

 of Tippex-ah. 



In 1880, a young monkey was purchased from a Tibetan, a 

 typical member of the nomadic tribe inhabiting Eastern Tibet, 

 wlio came in charge of a couple of Yaks, which Sir Ashley Eden 

 had obtained for presentation to the Zoological Society's Garden, 

 London. It was quite a baby when it came, and was carried in the 

 ample folds of its nomadic owner's garments; and it grew to be 

 a remarkably fine animal. In form and habits it resembled a 

 Macacus arctoides from Assam, Cachar or Tipperah in almost 

 every detail, although it never assumed the reddish flesh colour 

 of the face said to be characteristic of the species. Perhaps it is 

 this absence of the red colour of the face in the northern form of 

 the species which led older zoologists to separate it from the 



Indian form. 



Besides these we have had examples of this species from the 



Malayan Peninsula and Borneo, the_ latter being generally lighter 

 in colour, and less amiable in disposition. 



With regard to the colouration of the face and buttocks, 

 Blanford describes them as bright red, and Forbes as reddish flesh 

 colour. All that can be said on this point after a personal ex- 

 perience extending over many years dui-ing which a large number 

 of live examples of this species, young andadult* have come nnder 

 the observation of the writer of these notes, is that this character 

 is by no means constant. The colour of the face and buttocks, 

 specially of the former, is as changeable in this species as in 

 Macacus rhesus. 



