286 CLASS MAMMALIA. 



though not so often '* V the, vein" for wanton gambols, 

 would however not unfrequently join its companion, and 

 did not exhibit that degree of malevolence attributed by 

 some naturalists to the species. Its attention seemed 

 generally occupied and the monotony of its existence re- 

 lieved by any thing that was passing out of the limits of its 

 prison-house. Another specimen has also fallen under the 

 editor's observation in Woombwell's collection, which was 

 so far gentle and sociable as not to be confined within a 

 cage, but merely fastened by a light chain of some length, 

 in which situation it might have found opportunities, if it 

 had possessed the inclination, of gratifying a malicious and 

 savage inclination. 



It is indeed difficult to discover the real character of a 

 species from a few individuals. Their dispositions undergo 

 changes equally great with their persons at different periods 

 of their existence, so that both the personal and moral cha- 

 racter of an animal may be widely different and equally 

 true when taken during the young, adolescent, or aged pe- 

 riod of its life. Among the Hindoos this animal is called 

 Nilbundar. 



On the hair-lipped monkey (Macaque of Buffon) we shall 

 next make a few observations. He was until lately the 

 only author who has described the species after living in- 

 dividuals, but as he had under his inspection only two 

 males, one adult and the other young, (for his Egret seems to 

 be nothing more than the Macaque,) he has given us a 

 somewhat imperfect account, and seems in some measure 

 to have confounded this monkey with others. 



F. Cuvier has given a description of a male and female 

 which we shall here epitomise. The adult male Macaque 

 may be said to measure in length nearly two feet and a half, 

 nor is the tail much shorter. All its proportions are heavy 

 and clumsy, more especially in the anterior parts. Its head 

 is large, flattened above, and very strong in proportion to 



