18 WILD BEASTS OF THE WORLD 



the orchards and the corn-fields, but from the shops in the bazaar, for 

 where it is under Hindu protection it comes about human dwellings, 

 perching on the roofs, and making itself generally as great a nuisance 

 as a monkey living in the odour of sanctity might be expected to 

 become. 



It is a highly social animal, living in troops of several dozen 

 individuals, including both sexes ; the leading male of the troop, how- 

 ever, is credited with exercising despotic authority, and is also said, 

 when becoming enfeebled with age, to be hunted to death if possible 

 by his rivals. This is probable enough ; and at any rate old solitary 

 males — no doubt deposed monarchs — may be met with at times, 



Although Lungoors are more grave and composed in demeanour 

 than the common monkeys, they will fight most desperately at times, 

 and a quite Homeric combat was once witnessed by Mr. T. Hughes, 

 formerly of the Geological Survey of India. In this case, two troops, 

 a small and a large one, looked on while the leader of the former — 

 an unusually large specimen — heroically engaged two males from the 

 latter. He had mortally wounded one by ripping open his throat, 

 when two females of the opposing party attacked and injured him so 

 terribly that he shortly died, whereupon his followers were cruelly perse- 

 cuted by the winning side, who even shook down from a tree one 

 of his females carrying her young, so that she died also. It has been 

 noticed as a curious fact, that even in the remotest jungles these 

 creatures appear instinctively to recognise man as an ally against the 

 Tiger, whom they follow about in the trees overhead, abusing him 

 lustily. The Leopard, however, is a far worse enemy to them, and 

 they also fall victims to Pythons, which will attack even large male 

 specimens. 



Lungoors possess a considerable variety of notes, the harsh guttural 

 alarm-note being strongly contrasted with the loud musical whoop or 

 call given as they bound from tree to tree. This note is seldom heard 

 in captivity, and the species does not do very well in that condition even 

 in India, though it has not unfrequently reproduced when caged. It 

 needs a good supply of its natural diet of leaves, its stomach being 



