THE EDINBURGH 



JOURNAL OF NATURAL HISTORY, 



AND OF 



THE PHYSICAL SCIENCES. 



MAY, 1837- 



ZOOLOGY. 



DESCRIPTION OF THE PLATE. — THE CERCOPITHECI, OR GUENONS. 

 The Long-tailed Apes, to which the French give the name of Guenons, have been 

 separated from the rest of the very extensive family of Monkeys, and constitute a 

 genus to which the appellation of Ctn-copithecus is applied. They are of moderate 

 size, have a rather prominent muzzle, with a facial angle of about 60**, cheek- 

 pouches, callosities or bare spaces behind, and a tail of moderate length, or some- 

 times lon^^cr than the body. The species are numerous, live in flocks, and are of 

 a hvely disposition. They are easily domesticated, and although petulant, do not 

 manifest the vicious propensities of the Baboons, which are the most intractable and 

 disgusting animals of the family. 



Fig. 1. The Green Monkey or Guenon ( Cercopithecus Sabams.) — This spe- 

 cies, which inhabits Senegal and the Cape de Verd Islands, is one of those most fre- 

 quently imported into Europe. They live in large flocks, ascend the tallest trees 

 with the greatest agility, spring from one branch to another with unerring dexterity, 

 and are at first Uttle frightened by thp report of a gun, so that, according to Adan- 

 son, specimens may easily be procured, although, on account of their colour, they 

 are not always readily perceived. 



Fig. 2. represents a variety of the same species, which some, however, have con- 

 siderpd distinct. It is the Malbrouc of Buffon, the Simla Faunus of Graelin. 



Fig. 3. Diana Monkey (C. Diana.) — This handsome species, distinguished by 

 the dark colour of its upper parts, which are dotted with white, is also an inhabitant 

 of Senegal, and other parts of Africa. 



Fi"-. 4. The Mona (C. Mona.) — Of a bronm colour, with the limbs black, the 

 breast and a great part of the head white, the tail longer than the body. It in- 

 habits various parts of Africa, as well as Arabia, India, and Persia, and is one of 

 the species that agree best with the temperature of our climates. It is easily 

 tamed, and, being naturally timid, is rendered obedient by threats, while it is 

 also capable of considerable attachment, and is not so mischievous as most 

 Monkeys. 



FifT. 5. Atys, or "White Monkey (C. Atys.)—1he bare parts bemg flesh- 

 coloured, and the fur white, this has by some been supposed to be merely an albino 

 variety of some other species. 



Fio". 6. Sooty or Collarless Mangabey (C fuliginosus,) — Of a chocolate 

 brown on the upper parts, and said by Bufl'on to inhabit Madagascar. 



Fig. 7.. Collared Mangabey (C. JEthiops.) — Somewhat similar to the last, but 

 having a white band between the eyes, and another on each side of the head. It is 

 said to inhabit Madagascar and Abyssinia. 



DESCRIPTION OF THE PLATE. THE AGATE-SHELLS. 



The genus Achatina belongs to the Trachelipodous order of Lamarck, and to the 

 family of CoUmaces, or Snails. It is composed of species generally of large or 

 moderate size, of which the ovate or oblong shell, which is usually thin, with an 

 entire, thin-lipped mouth, is for the most part marked with various colours. 

 These shells, in fact, are very beautiful, and several, being also rare, are of com- 

 paratively high price. Lamarck supposes them to be terrestrial, but to live in the 

 ■vicinity of water. 



Fig. 1. The Zebra Agate-shell {Achatina Zebra.) — Longitudinally striped 

 with red and brown on a white ground, this shell, which is one of the largest of 

 the family, is also one of the most beautiful. It attains a length of six or seven 

 inches, and inhabits Madagascar. 



Fi"s. 2, 3. "White-lined Agate-shell (.-i. albo-Jineata.) — This species, which 

 is seldom more than an inch and a half in length, differs in form from the preceding, 

 bv having the last turn compressed so as to narrow the mouth. It is found in 

 Martinique. 



Fig. 4. Acute or sharp-pointed Agate-shell (.4, acuta.) — Somewhat 

 similar hi form and markings to the Zebra-shell. It is found near Sierra Leone. 



Fig. 5. Purple-mouthed Agate-shell (^.j^wrpuz-ea.) — This species, which, 

 accordmg to Lister, inhabits Africa and Jamaica, is in much request, on account of 

 the beautiful purple tint with which the inner surface of its mouth is ornamented. 



Fig. 6. represents a variety of the same shell, having the spire more varie- 

 gated, and its turns following an opposite direction, so that the mouth is placed 

 on the other side, an anomaly which sometimes presents itself in shells of this order, 

 as well as in many others, which are then said to be reversed. 



Fig. 7. Chestnut Agate-shell (^A. castanea.) — The individual represented is 

 paler than usual, the colour being generally reddish-brown. The native country 

 unknown. 



Fig. 8. The Fiery Agate-shell (^A. fnhninea.) — Of an elongated spiral form 

 \7ith red longitudinal bands on a whitish ground. It inhabits St Domingo. 



Fig. 9. Variegated Agate.shell (^A. variegata,) — From the West Indies. 



Fig. 10. Virgin Agate-s^iell (A. virginea.) — Although common in collections, 

 one of the most beautiful species of the genus, being girt with black and red 

 bands on a white ground, and with the inner lip rose-red. It comes from the 

 West India Islands. 



BRITISH BIRDS, NO. 11, 



The Golden Eagle. — Of the various Birds that inhabit this country, perhaps 

 none have attracted more attention than the Eagles, of which two species are indigenous. 

 The Golden or Ring -tailed Eagle (Aqmla Chrj/saetus), although formerly not uncom- 

 mon in various parts of Britain, is now chiefly met with in the mountainous districts of 

 the middle and noithern divisions of Scotland, and in the larger Hebrides, where the 

 species still maintains a rather precarious existence. Excepting the White-tailed Sea 

 Eagle, HaliaeUts Albicillay it is the largest of our rapacious birds. As is generally the 

 case among the Raptores, the male is much inferior in size to the female. Several in- 

 dividuals were about two feet nine inches in length, their expanded wings measuring 

 about six feet ; the body robust ; the neck of moderate length ; the head rather 

 large; the wings when closed reaching nearly to the end of the tail, which is rather 

 long, broad, and rounded ; the bill is rather short, very deep, compressed with a 

 curved acute tip; and the feet, which are feathered to the lower tarsal joint, are very 

 muscular; the toes strong, united at the base by a short web, and furnished with 

 large, curved, tapering, acute claws, rounded on the sides, arid flat beneath ; those 

 of the first and second toes being largest. The bill is greyish blue at the base, 

 black at the end, as are the claws ; the cere and toes yellow. The general colour of 

 the plumage is dark brown ; the hind head and neck light yellowish-brown ; the in- 

 ner and fore sides of the legs and tarsi reddish-brown. The quills are brownish- 

 black, their inner webs irregularly barred with greyish-white; the tail brownish-black 

 towards the end, its proximal part lighter, and irregularly barred or mottled with 

 greyish. The female is generally about three feet two inches in length, with the 

 extended wings measuring about seven feel ; the weight varying from ten to twelve 

 pounds. The colours are similar to those of the male, but generally lighter. Young 

 birds have the basal portion of the tail white, that colour being gradually encroached 

 upon by the brown, until the fifth or sixth year, when it entirely disappears. 



This beautiful, powerful, and rapacious bird, having very frequently come under 

 our observation both in the wild and captive states, we are enabled to present to our 

 readers a somewhat detailed account of its habits. All Eagles when at rest have a. 

 peculiarly clumsy appearance, owing chiefly to the great size of their wings, which 

 they seem to find it difficult to dispose of in a neat and compact manner ; but when 

 roused they assume a bold and lively attitude, rendered more imposing by the glare 

 of their full and bright eyes, which are partially overshadowed by the projecting 

 lachrymal bones or eyebrows. The Golden Eagle is more lively than the Sea 

 Eagle, and of more destructive habits ; for, although a carrion bird, it frequently 

 seizes grouse, hares, and other small animals, and sometimes attacks even deer and 

 sheep. Great havoc is occasionally made by it among the lambs, before they have 

 attained the age of six weeks ; and in consequence of the injury thus inflicted, vari- 

 ous methods have been employed for reducing its numbers. Sometimes its nest is 

 assailed from above, by letting down a person upon a rope, who generally succeeds in 

 destroying its contents, whether by removing them, or by lowering among them a 

 bundle of combustible matter with a live coal enclosed. The old birds are shot, by 

 being enticed, by means of a dead Sheep or Horse, to a spot in the immediate vici- 

 nity of which a person is concealed under ground, or in a small hut, so covered with 

 heath that it cannot be distinguished from the surrounding surface. More com- 

 monly, however. Eagles are trapped, at least on the mainland of Scotland. 



The flight of the Golden Eagle is very beautiful. Owing to the great size of its 

 wings, it finds some difficulty in rising from the ground, although it is considerably 

 more active in this respect than the white-tailed Eagle ; but when fairly on wing, it 

 proceeds with great ease, and on occasion is capable of urging its speed so as to equal 

 that of most large birds. However, even at its utmost stretch, it is certainly much 

 inferior to that of the Rock Pigeon, the Merlin, and many other species ; and the 

 Raven, during the breeding season, finds no difficulty in overtaking an Eagle that 

 may happen to fly near his nest. When searching the bills for food, it flies low, 

 with a motion of the wings resembling that of the Raven, but with occasional sailings 

 uid curves, in the Bwnner of many hawks. At times it ascends high into the air, 



