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.--Nearly allied to _S. schistaceus_. Crestless; hair on top of
head radiating in all directions; ears large, whiskers short, not
concealing the ears; prominent supra-orbital projecting hairs, black; face,
ears, hands, and feet black. Head, body, limbs, and tail--which is a fourth
longer than the body--pale yellowish-brown, darker on the shoulders and the
outside of the limbs; under surface paler.
FEMALE.--Smaller than the male.
DISTRIBUTION.--According to Dr. Anderson, this species ranges from the
Deccan northwards to the south bank of the Ganges; its distribution to the
north-west, west, and south being uncertain.
HABITS.--"Few, if any, wild animals," observes Dr. Blanford, "afford better
opportunities for observation than the Hanuman Monkey of Northern and
Central India. Generally protected and looked upon as sacred by many of the
Hindu inhabitants, it has no fear of Man, and may be found in groves near
villages, or even on the village trees, as often as in the depths of the
forest. In many parts of India it is a common occurrence to see these
Monkeys on the roofs of houses. They frequently pilfer food from the
grain-dealers' shops, whilst the damage they inflict on gardens and fields,
renders them a great nuisance to the natives. They feed on fruit and grain,
but especially on {106}leaves and young shoots. They live in the high trees
of the forest and near to water, or in rocky hills, in moderately-sized
troops composed of males, females, young, and infants clasping their
mothers. An old male is occasionally found solitary. Two communities often
enter into deadly combat for possession of some fruit grove, an interesting
account of one of which is given by Mr. J. Hughes in the 'Proceedings of
the Asiatic Society of Bengal' for 1884." They are at all times very
active. "Their voice," continues Dr. Blanford, whose account we have
condensed, "is loud and is often heard, especially in the morning and
evening. The two commonest sounds emitted by them are a loud, joyous,
rather musical call, a kind of whoop generally uttered when they are
bounding from tree to tree, and a harsh guttural note, denoting alarm or
danger. The latter is the cry familiar to the tiger hunter, among whose
best friends is the Hanuman. Safely ensconced on a lofty tree, or jumping
from one tree to another as the tiger moves, the Monkey by gesture and cry
points out the position of its deadly enemy in the bushes or grass beneath,
and swears at him heartily."
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