_Cercopithecus signatus_, Jentink, Notes, Leyd. Mus., viii., p. 55
(1886); Sclater, P. Z. S., 1893, p. 257.
CHARACTERS.--Very similar to _C. petaurista_. Sides of head grizzled--the
hairs ringed with white, yellowish, and black--and separated abruptly from
the reddish upper portion of the head by a black band from ear to ear over
the orbits, but not running round the vertex; ears somewhat larger than in
_C. petaurista_.
Cranial portion of skull higher, and the facial portion more produced than
in _C. petaurista_; the jaws longer, and the orbits rounder and wider.
DISTRIBUTION.--Supposed to be from West Africa, but its habitat is not
known with certainty.
{46}III. THE RED-BELLIED GUENON. CERCOPITHECUS ERYTHROGASTER.
_Cercopithecus erythrogaster_, Gray, P. Z. S., 1866, p. 169, pl. xvi.,
1868, p. 182; id., Cat. Monkeys Brit. Mus., p. 128 (1870); Murie, P. Z.
S., 1866, p. 380; Schleg., Mus. Pays-Bas, vii., p. 69 (1876); Sclater, P.
Z. S., 1893, p. 252, 1894, p. 1.
CHARACTERS.--Fur blackish, speckled with yellow, especially on the head,
the hairs being black ringed with yellow; face black; nose-spot white;
moustache and frontal band from the temple to the ears black; on each cheek
a whitish-yellow spot; whiskers, beard, throat, and sides of neck
yellowish-white; chest and under surface of body rufous; inner side of the
front of the thighs, and under side of the tail greyish-white; outer aspect
of thighs and hind legs grey, speckled with black. Length of body, 13½
inches; of tail, 16 inches.
In the young female the top of the head is yellowish, this colour extending
towards the nape.
DISTRIBUTION.--West Africa. This species has been only once exhibited in
the Zoological Gardens of London, viz., in 1866, but recently, according to
Dr. Sclater, a specimen lived for a short time in the Zoological Gardens of
Rotterdam.
HABITS.--Nothing is known of the habits of the Red-bellied Guenon in a
state of nature; but Dr. Murie has written of the one that lived for two
months in the Zoological Gardens: "Its nature appeared mild and harmless,
by no means grave or sedate, indeed rather inclined to be lively and
playful, with but little disposition to be quarrelsome. The keeper noticed
that it appeared timid, and somewhat distrustful of its more romping
companions, but freely approached him, and when {47}taking food out of his
hand seemed pleased, and gently played with his fingers without attempting
to bite."