_Simia cephus_, Linn., Syst. Nat., i., p. 39 (1766).
_Cercopithecus cephus_ (Moustac), F. Cuvier, Hist. Nat., Mamm., i., livr.
xxvi. (1821); Martin, Mammif. An., p. 532 (1841); Wagner, in Schreber's
Säugeth. Suppl., v., p. 49 (1855); Gray, P. Z. S., 1868, p. 182; id.,
Cat. Monkeys Brit. Mus., p. 20 (1870); Schleg., Mus. Pays-Bas, vii., p.
91 (1876); Scl., P. Z. S., 1893, p. 246.
_Le moustac_, Audebert, Hist. Nat. Singes, Fam. iv., Sect, ii., p. 19,
fig. xii.
CHARACTERS.--Face and nose naked; muzzle short; whiskers thick and bushy,
directed backward and downward. Face, except the lips, violet-blue; margin
of the upper lip black, this {54}colour extending as a bar back to the
whiskers; between this black margin and the nose is a white bar, extending
also across the cheek to the whiskers; under lip and chin, black; whiskers
between the eyes and ears golden-yellow, paler below the ears, and white on
the under jaw; ears black, with yellowish-white hairs. Head greenish,
darker on the back than on the front; the neck, back, shoulders, outer side
of arms, flanks, buttocks, and upper side of the base of the tail
greenish-brown--the hairs being grey at their roots and ringed above with
yellow and black, or brown, the predominance of the one or the other
producing the brown, or brighter or fainter green colour; on the outer side
of the thighs, the green hue is deeper. The rest of the outer aspect of the
limbs is grey washed with yellow; hands and feet dusky brown or dull black;
under side of the body and inside of the limbs dark grey, lighter on the
throat, breast, and fore part of the belly; under side of the base of the
tail dark grey; the remaining two-thirds rufous. Length of body, 19 inches;
of tail, 26 inches.
DISTRIBUTION.--West Africa: from Gaboon to the Congo.
HABITS.--This species is not at all uncommon in menageries. Numerous
specimens have from time to time been exhibited in the Zoological Gardens
in London. Little is known, however, of the habits of the Moustached Monkey
in its native forests. In captivity it is intelligent, lively, and
good-tempered, but very shy. Its delicate constitution cannot resist the
rigours of our climate for any length of time.