1211 



Three new Species of Monkey ; with Remarks on the genera Semnopi- 

 thecus et Macacus. By B. H. Hodgson, Esq. 



Whoever has occasion to refer to the family of the Simiadae in 

 works of Zoology, will, I think, be struck with the fugitive and doubt- 

 ful manner in which several proximate forms are generically separated 

 from each other ; and this impression is peculiarly likely to arise, 

 if the reference be made with a view to classifying the ordinary Indian 

 species. Are the larger ones (Langoors) Semnopitheci or Cercopi- 

 theci ? Are the smaller ones (Bander) Macaci ant alium quid ? It is 

 universally laid down that the Semnopitheci and Cercopitheci both 

 have cheek pouches ; yet is there not really any trace whatever of 

 these pouches in their prototypes, the Langoors of India, not at least 

 in those of Nepal : and whilst Cuvier's type of the former genus has 

 andromorphous canines, Horsfield's has these teeth as formidably 

 developed as in the true Carnivora ; the difference in this case being 

 consequent only on nonage or feminity, though insisted on by authors 

 as essentially diagnostic of separate types or genera. 



Again, what animal exhibits the typical characters of Macacus ? If 

 Rhesus, then are our Indian Banders not Macaci, as generally alleged, 

 for they have neither the elongated snout, nor the very short tail of 

 that species : nor are their canines longer than in the Langoors, to 

 which they bear a strict likeness in the outline of the profile, and in the 

 facial angle ; the only differences in these respects being caused by the 

 greater dip between the brows at the base of the nose, owing to the 

 superior saliency of the orbital bones, and by the shortness of the round 

 terminal nares. 



Without further preface, I shall now proceed to give a summary 

 description of our Nipalese species of Langoor and of Bander, prefixing 

 to each an amended indication of the generic character, for the reasons 

 above assigned. 



SIMIADJE. 



Genus. Semnopithecus. 



Generic character. Facial angle 45 to 50 ; face flat ; nose short, with 

 long narrow lateral nares ; head depressed; limbs long; thumbs small, 

 remote J callosities large ; no cheek pouches ; 5th tubercle on last molar 



