4 SIMIAS^. 



thus affording a curious analogy to the ruminants, in whom alone they 

 otherwise occur. 



The species of this genus abound in most of the forests of India, and 

 their loud calls resound to vast distances through the jungles. They leap 

 with surprising agihty and precision from branch to branch, and when 

 ptessed take most astonishing jumps. I have seen them cross from tree 

 to tree, a space of 20 to 30 feet wide, with perhaps 40 or 50 feet ia de- 

 scent, and alight in safety on the branch they sought. They can run on 

 all fours with considerable rapidity, taking long strides or rather bounds. 

 The tail of these monkeys of course is not prehensile ; yet I have heard 

 several men whom I considered persons of observation, and whose testi- 

 mony I would willingly take on other subjects, assert most positively that 

 they had seen Langurs holding on by their taUs and thus swinging them- 

 selves from tree to tree. Such is the force of a pre-conceived idea, that it 

 prevails over actual observation of the senses. 



Several species of Preshytis have been described of late years, which 

 were formerly confounded under the old name of Entellus, and there are 

 five undoubted species of the genus inhabiting India proper. 



1. Fresbytis entellus. 



Simla apud Dcfresnoy — fig. F. Cuviee, Mamm. I., 3, and III., 6. — > 

 Hunumdn of Hindus. — Langur H. — Wanur, and Mdkur, Mahr. — Musya, 

 Can.— Blyth, Cat. 27. — Elliot, Cat. 2. — Hoksfield, Cat. 4. — P. an- 

 shises, Elliot? 



The Bengal Langur. 



Descr. — ^The general hue of this species is a pale dirty or ashy stramine- 

 ous, darker (in some) on the shoulders, rump, and sides of the limbs, and 

 paler on the head and lower parts ; entire hands and feet conspicuously 

 black ; no trace of a crest of hairs on the vertex. 



Length of a male, 30 inches to root of tail, which was 43 inches ; but it 

 attains a still larger size. 



This is the common Langur or 'Hunumdn of Bengal and Central India. 

 Buchanan Hamilton says, that it is not found north of the Ganges, and that 

 even south of that river it is rare in certain parts that would appear suit- 

 able for it, as at Rajmahal. Mr. Blyth states that, he has never seen it 

 wild east of the Hoogly, but that it extends up the right bank of that 



