_Cynocephalus niger_, Desm., Mamm., p. 534 (1820).
_Macacus niger_, Bennett, Gard, and Menag. Zool. Soc., p. 189, with
figure (1830); Schl., Mus. Pays Bas, vii., p. 119 (1876).
_Cynopithecus niger_, Is. Geoffr., in Bélanger's Voyage, p. 66 (1834);
Lesson, Quadrum., p. 101 (1840); Gray, Cat. Monkeys Brit. Mus., p. 33
(1870).
_Papio niger_ et _P. nigrescens_, Temm., Possess. Néerl. Ind., iii., p.
111 (1847).
_Cynopithecus niger_, vel _nigrescens_, Wagner in Schreb., Säugeth.
Suppl., v., p. 61, tab. 6 (1855).
_Cynopithecus nigrescens_, Wallace, Malay Arch., i., p. 432 (1869).
CHARACTERS.--About the size of a Spaniel; head oblong; face very elongated,
naked; neck, hands, and feet also naked; nose triangular, the sides erect,
flattened behind nearly to the eyes, not extending to the end of the
muzzle, but leaving a broad upper lip; nostrils, with a long and broad
partition between them, directed downwards and outwards--a character seen
in the genus _Macacus_, and distinguishing this genus from the true Baboons
(_Cynocephalus_); cheek-swellings parallel to the nose, distinct, but not
conspicuously large; supra-orbital ridges very conspicuous; cheek-pouches
large; tail rudimentary, reduced to a fleshy tubercle, one inch long, and
hardly visible. Length, 24 inches.
Fur long and woolly over the body; especially long on the top of the head,
forming a crest; hair of the limbs shorter.
{282}Face, neck, hands, and feet black; fur all over the body and limbs
jet-black; callosities bright flesh-colour.
In the skull the maxillary bones are developed into strong lateral ridges
corresponding in structure to those of the most typical Baboons.
DISTRIBUTION.--This species is found far away from the habitat of the true
Baboons, whose home is in the Ethiopian Region. The Black Baboon is an
inhabitant of Celebes, one of the islands of the eastern portion of the
Malay Archipelago. It is found, however, also in the neighbouring island of
Batchian, further to the east--indeed the most easterly range of the
Quadrumana--as well as in some of the Philippine Islands to the west. In
both of these regions it is supposed to have been accidentally introduced
by the Malays. In Batchian, Mr. Wallace remarks, "it seems so much out of
place that it is difficult to imagine how it could have reached the island
by any natural means of dispersal, and yet not have passed by the same
means over the narrow strait to Gilolo--so that it seems more likely to
have originated from some individuals which had escaped from confinement,
these and similar animals being often kept as pets by the Malays and
carried about in their praus." Analogous to the distribution of this animal
in the Philippines and Celebes is that of a genus of
Parrots--_Prioniturus_--with racquet-shaped tails. The species of the
latter genus are divided between Celebes and its small adjacent islands and
the Philippines and the small islands adjacent to that archipelago, and
present a curious case of the restricted range of a well-marked group.
HABITS.--This interesting animal, geographically so isolated, lives in the
luxuriant forests in small companies, and feeds chiefly on the abundant
fruits which these forests provide. In its {283}disposition it appears to
be more amiable and docile than the African Baboons. Some kinds of Monkeys,
as Mr. Darwin observes, which have moveable ears, and fight with their
teeth, draw back their ears when irritated just like Dogs, and then they
have a very spiteful appearance.... Other kinds--and this is a great
anomaly in comparison with most other animals--retract their ears, "and
utter a slight jabbering noise when they are pleased by being caressed. I
observed this in the _Cynopithecus niger_.... With the _Cynopithecus_ the
corners of the mouth are at the same time drawn backwards and upwards, so
that the teeth are exposed. Hence this expression would never be recognised
by a stranger as one of pleasure. The crest of long hairs on the forehead
is depressed, and apparently the whole skin of the head is drawn backwards.
The eyebrows are thus raised a little, and the eyes assume a staring
appearance. The lower eyelids also become slightly wrinkled; but this
wrinkling is not conspicuous, owing to the permanent transverse furrows on
the face." When enraged, the _Cynopithecus niger_ depresses the crest of
hair on its forehead, and shows its teeth; "so that," as Mr. Darwin
continues, "the movements of the features from anger are nearly the same as
those from pleasure; and the two expressions can be distinguished only by
those familiar with the animal." See the figures in Mr. Darwin's "Emotions
in Man," &c., p. 136.
{285}APPENDIX.
While this volume was passing through the press, a valuable paper by
Messrs. Oldfield Thomas and Ernst Hartert has appeared in the Hon. Walter
Rothschild's Journal "Novitates Zoologicæ." It deals with the Mammalia
collected in the Natuna Islands by Mr. Alfred Everett, and the following
additional notes must be recorded.
p. 20. TARSIUS TARSIUS.
_Tarsius spectrum_, Oldfield Thomas and Hartert, Nov. Zool., i., p. 655
(1894).
Mr. Everett says that on Banguran Island he could hear nothing of the
existence of the Tarsier, but on Sirhassen Island the Malays described it
to him unmistakably under the name of "Imbing."
p. 33. NYCTICEBUS TARDIGRADUS.
Mr. Everett procured specimens of the Javan Slow-Loris on the island of
Banguran, where, he says, it is probably not rare, though not often
captured; the native name is "Kukáng." The natives of Banguran did not
appear to know the animal.
p. 100 _et sequent._ PROPITHECUS MAJORI.
_Propithecus majori_, Rothschild, Nov. Zool., i., p. 666, pi. xiv.
(1894).
{286}ADULT.--Head and neck black. Face, snout, and ears naked, and of a
blackish colour, encircled by a broad band of long white hairs, joining
under the throat, slightly mixed with darker hairs. Rest of fur, including
the tail, white on the upper surface; back and upper rump dark brown. The
large white patch on and between the shoulders much grizzled with brown
hairs. Under side of hind-limbs, to just below the knees, blackish-brown.
Inside of hind-limbs down to the heel also brown, joining the colour of the
upper surface, thus forming a continuous dark stripe along the legs. Inner
and upper surface of arms, thumb, and two following fingers, deep
blackish-brown; throat, chest, and greater part of abdomen, deep brown.
Size perceptibly larger than that of _Propithecus verreauxi_, with the tail
longer.
This species of _Propithecus_ is nearest to the typical _P. verreauxi_ of
Grandidier, which is white, with the top of the head black, and the lower
back and rump greyish-brown, but is no doubt an entirely different species.
(_Rothschild_, _l.c._)
DISTRIBUTION.--Antimosy country, S.W. Madagascar.