IN CAPTIVITY IN LOWER BENGAL. 17 



also of the belly. The throat, sides of the neck and chest are con- 

 colorous with the upper parts. A narrow, well-defined white line 

 passes along the middle of the under surface from the chest in the 

 adult to the hinder portion of the abdomen, * * * * the white line is 

 prolonged as a fine line to the wrist and ankle." 



Hab. — Borneo, Sumatra and the Malayan peninsula. 



(15) THE PURPLE-FACED MONKEY. 

 (SEMNOPITHECUS CEPHALOPTEKUS— Z*mm.) 



Description, — About the same size as a hoolock, tail about 24 inches. 

 The distinctive characteristics of this monkey are the following : — " A 

 ruff of white hair, more or less tinged with brown, encircling the face 

 and extending on to the throat and under surface of neck ; the hair 

 on the sides of the face long, soft, and pointed upwards, forming a 

 conspicuous whisker ; the skin of the face black with a purplish tinge ; 

 the palms and soles dull black." The general colour of this monkey is 

 greyish black. Tail tufted. 



Hab. — Ceylon. 



(16) THE SIMPAL 

 (SEMNOPITHECUS MELALOPHUS-^. Cuvier.) 



Description, — It has a slender body about 18 inches in length, tail 

 about 30 inches. The hair of the crown formed into a crest, which is 

 erect and compressed laterally, but not equally distinct in all specimens. 

 Its colour is pale yellowish white ; hands and feet yellowish ; face 

 bluish black, washed with a leaden hue. 



Hab. — Sumatra. 



Length of life in captivity. 



Of these, the Assam langur has lived the longest, one obtained in 

 1883 being still alive. A proboscis monkey lived for about two years 

 and six months, and a red monkey for about the same period. A 

 banded leaf monkey lived for nearly fourteen months; the duration 

 of life of both the purple-faced monkey and the simpai was very short, 

 not exceeding six months in each case. 



Treatment in health. 

 Housing. — The housing of the Assam langur calls for no parti- 

 cular remarks, except that it does not seem to pine like the hanuman 

 when kept singly ; it is, however, better to give it company whenever 

 possible. The comparatively long period during which a specimen has 

 lived in good health in the garden is mainly due, no doubt, to its 

 habitation. The proboscis and the red monkeys, specially the former, 

 are more retiring in disposition, and it is therefore necessary that they 

 should be afforded facilities for privacy. This is very easily done. 

 About two feet below the top of the cage a shelf should be placed, 

 broad enough for a couple of monkeys to sit or lie upon. By boarding 



