_Simia petaurista_, Schreb., Saügeth., i., p. 103, pl. xix. B (1775).
_Blanc-nez_, Buff., Hist. Nat., Suppl., vii., p. 67 (1789).
_Cercopithecus petaurista_, Erxl., Syst. Regn. An., p. 35 (1777); Martin,
Mammif. An., p. 539 (1841); Wagn. in Schreber's Säugeth., Suppl., v., p.
250 (1855); Gray, Cat. Monkeys Brit. Mus., p. 20 (1870); Schleg., Mus.
Pays-Bas, vii., p. 86 (1876); Scl., P. Z. S., 1893, p. 244.
_Ascagne_ (_Cercopithecus ascanius_), Audeb., Hist. Nat. Singes, Fam.
iv., Sect. ii., fig. xiii.; F. Cuvier, Nat. Hist., Mamm., i., livr. xiv.
(Fev., 1820).
CHARACTERS.--Head round, the forehead rather elevated; nose broad; face and
nose covered with short hairs; whiskers short; chin bearded. Head, back,
upper side of tail, olive-green--the hairs grey at the base--ringed with
darker or lighter yellow and black; facial hairs black, slightly washed
with fulvous on the cheeks; skin below bluish-red or violet; lower part of
the nose and half of the upper lip white; whiskers and beard white; line
across the forehead above the eyes and the ears, and {45}encircling the
crown behind, black; a pencil of hair below the ears directed backward,
white; throat, chest, under side of body, inside of limbs and under side of
tail white; posterior aspect of fore-arms and legs grey, washed with olive;
naked parts of chin, ears, and hands purplish-black.
DISTRIBUTION.--West Africa: Gold Coast and Sierra Leone.
HABITS.--The Ascagne, as this animal is also named, is the most common of
the Guenons seen in menageries. It is gentle, graceful, and lively. They
are perpetually in motion, "gambolling with their companions, and pursuing
or being pursued by them, in the exuberance of playfulness. They are at the
same time docile and familiar, but dislike to be taken hold of, or
interfered with." (_Martin._) Allamand says that his specimen, which was in
general very gentle, became angry when interrupted while eating, or if it
was gibed at, but its irritation did not last long.