A Hand-book to the Primates, Volume 2 (of 2)Forbes, Henry O. (Henry Ogg)
Science
A Hand-book to the Primates, Volume 2 (of 2)
Forbes, Henry O. (Henry Ogg)
Primates
CHARACTERS.--Larger and more strongly-built than _M. rhesus_. Fur
moderately long, wavy, woolly (in some specimens), and without rings; the
hair of the crown radiating from the centre of the forehead outwards and
backwards; the hair round the face and on the chin rather long; that on and
between the shoulders, and on the sides of the chest, longer than on the
hind part of the body; hairs on the lower part of the flanks rather long;
tail about, or less than, half the length of the body, not tufted, but
longer, smaller, and much less densely furred than in _M. rhesus_;
callosities surrounded by fur; ears tufted, and haired inside; beard well
developed; face and ears dusky. Length, 26¾ inches; tail, 9¼ inches.
The fur above differs from that of _M. rhesus_, in the anterior half being
uniform dark brown, wanting the ashy-grey tint; and the hinder portion
brown, without the rufous seen in {21}_M. rhesus_; the outside of the
fore-limbs, the back of the neck, and region between the shoulders, brown,
washed with yellowish or golden; upper surface of head pale
yellowish-brown; flanks, front of fore-limbs, outer aspect of thighs, back
of feet and tail, darker; under surface of body and inside of limbs
yellowish-grey or greyish-yellow; behind the angle of the mouth, below and
behind the ears, and on the chin, the hairs are yellowish-grey, tipped with
black; face and callosities, pale flesh-coloured.
The skull and skeleton agree closely with those of _M. rhesus_, but are
somewhat larger. Canine teeth long, and deeply grooved in front.
DISTRIBUTION.--This Macaque inhabits the Himalayan ranges as far west as
Masuri, or perhaps further, from near the base of the hills to a
considerable elevation (_Blanford_); it extends eastwards from the Nepal
Region of the Himalaya through Assam and the north-eastern portion of
Bengal into the upper or hilly portion of the valley of the Irawady.
(_Anderson._) This species is said to have its home generally between 3,000
and 6,000 feet above the sea. Dr. Anderson obtained on the Irawady, 25
miles below Bhamo, a female out of a large colony "living below the huge
Deva-faced limestone cliff, at the foot of which lies the small pagoda of
Sessoungan. The crews of passing boats and pious visitors generally throw
rice and fruits to these Monkeys as a work of merit."
HABITS.--This species probably represents a Himalo-Burman race or
sub-species of _M. rhesus_. Its habits are much the same as those of that
species, but it is said to have a slightly different voice and to be more
sluggish, according to Blanford.
{22}X. THE BENGAL MACAQUE. MACACUS RHESUS.
_Simia rhesus_, var. Audeb., Hist. Nat. Singes, Fam. ii., Sec. i., p. 5,
pl. i. (1797).
_Simia erythræa_, Schreber, Säugeth, Suppl., pl. 8, fig. c.
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