Part 1

Transcriber's note: A few typographical errors have been corrected: they are listed at the end of the text.

Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_). A carat character is used to denote superscription: a single character following the carat is superscripted (example: A^4).

Page numbers enclosed by curly braces (example: {25}) have been incorporated to facilitate the use of the Alphabetical Index (in Volume II.).

Project Gutenberg has the other volume of this work. Volume II: see https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/43992

* * * * *

_ALLEN'S NATURALIST'S LIBRARY._

EDITED BY R. BOWDLER SHARPE, LL.D., F.L.S., ETC.

A HAND-BOOK TO THE PRIMATES.

BY HENRY O. FORBES, LL.D., F.Z.S., ETC., DIRECTOR OF MUSEUMS, LIVERPOOL, _Author of "A Naturalist's Wanderings in the Eastern Archipelago," etc., etc., etc._

_VOL. I._

LONDON: W. H. ALLEN & CO., LIMITED, 13, WATERLOO PLACE, S.W. 1894.

PREFACE.

The great increase in our knowledge of animals which has taken place since the volume on Monkeys was published in "Jardine's Naturalist's Library" some sixty years ago, cannot be better illustrated than by the fact that our excellent contributor, Dr. H. O. Forbes, has found it impossible to compress that knowledge into a single volume of the present issue. There is, moreover, no Museum which contains such a complete series of skins of the Primates, as to render a perfect "monograph" of the Order possible. Dr. Forbes has endeavoured in these volumes to bring the subject up to date, and has devoted some years of study to the two which now appear under his name, and he has had the great advantage of having seen many of the species of which these volumes treat, in a state of nature. If diligent research and patient work, combined with a sound anatomical knowledge and an acquaintance with many species of Monkeys in their natural habitat, avail anything, then these volumes should present to the student a more concise epitome of the characteristics of the Primates than any other essay yet offered to the public. It has been found impossible to reproduce any of the plates in the old "Naturalist's Library" of Jardine. They would have formed, with appropriate inscriptions, a very good instalment of a series of "Comic Natural History" volumes, as they were, in fact, nothing but a set of extraordinary caricatures of Monkeys. I have, therefore, again to acknowledge the liberality of the publishers, in adopting my suggestion that a perfectly new set of illustrations should be prepared. These have been executed by Mr. J. G. Keulemans, with a result, I hope, that will satisfy the reader.

R. BOWDLER SHARPE.

INTRODUCTION.

In the first volume will be found an account of the _Lemuroidea_, and the _Anthropoidea_ as far as the group of the Macaques of the family _Cercopithecidæ_. The second volume continues with the latter genus, and contains the rest of the Monkeys, and the Apes, as well as a summary of the geographical distribution of the species of the Order Primates.

I have not attempted to write a complete synonymy of the species of Monkeys. The literature is scattered over many, often obscure, periodicals, and without seeing the actual specimens described by some of the older writers, it would be easy to introduce a great deal of confusion into the synonymy. I have, therefore, only attempted to give the principal references.

I must express my obligation to Dr. Günther, F.R.S., the Keeper of the Zoological Department in the British Museum, for the facilities of study afforded to me in that institution. To Mr. Oldfield Thomas I am likewise greatly indebted for much assistance, and for many a kindly hint.

Dr. Forsyth Major, who is well-known as one of the foremost authorities on the Lemurs, not only gave me valuable information as to the species and literature of the _Lemuroidea_, but was even so good as to furnish me with the descriptions of several new species.

Lastly, to my friend the Editor, I have to return my sincere thanks for the patience with which he has revised my MSS., and for the verification of numbers of references, only to be found in the great libraries of London, and inaccessible to an author dwelling in the provinces.

HENRY O. FORBES.

SYSTEMATIC INDEX.

PAGE ORDER PRIMATES 1

SUB-ORDER I. LEMUROIDEA 8

FAMILY I. CHIROMYIDÆ 14

I. CHIROMYS, Cuvier 14 1. madagascariensis (Gm.) 14

FAMILY II. TARSIIDÆ 18

I. TARSIUS, Storr. 18 1. tarsius (Erxl.) 20, 286 2. fuscus, Fischer 21

FAMILY III. LEMURIDÆ 22

SUB-FAMILY I. LORISINÆ 24

I. PERODICTICUS, Bennett 26 1. calabarensis, Smith 27 2. potto (Geoffr.) 28

II. LORIS, Geoffr. 31 1. gracilis, Geoffr. 31

III. NYCTICEBUS, Geoffr. 33 1. tardigradus (Linn.) 33, 286

SUB-FAMILY II. GALAGINÆ 37

I. GALAGO, Geoffr. 38 1. garnetti (Ogilby) 40 2. senegalensis, Geoffr. 41 3. alleni, Waterh. 43 4. demidoffi, Fischer 44 5. monteiri, Bartlett 46 6. crassicaudata, Geoffr. 47

II. CHIROGALE, Geoffr. 49 1. milii, Geoffr. 50 2. melanotis, Forsyth Major 51 3. trichotis, Günth. 52 4. crossleyi, Grandid. 53

III. MICROCEBUS, Geoffr. 54 1. minor (Gray) 55 2. myoxinus, Peters 56 3. smithii (Gray) 57 4. furcifer (Blainv.) 59 5. coquereli (Grandid.) 60

IV. OPOLEMUR, Gray 61 1. samati (Grandid.) 62 2. thomasi, Forsyth Major 63

SUB-FAMILY III. LEMURINÆ 64

I. LEMUR, Linn. 65 1. varius, Is. Geoffr. 68 2. macaco, Linn. 69 3. mongoz, Linn. 71 [alpha]. rufipes 72 [beta]. rufifrons 72 [gamma]. cinereiceps 72 [delta]. collaris 72 [epsilon]. rufus 73 [zeta]. nigrifrons 73 [eta]. albifrons 73 4. nigerrimus, Scl. 73 5. albimanus, Is. Geoffr. 74 6. coronatus, Gray 75 7. rubriventer, Is. Geoffr. 76 8. catta, Linn. 76

II. MIXOCEBUS, Peters 78 1. caniceps, Peters 78

III. HAPALEMUR, Is. Geoffr. 79 1. griseus (Geoffr.) 81 2. simus, Gray 82

IV. LEPIDOLEMUR, Is. Geoffr. 83

_Section A.--Species Majores._ 1. mustelinus, Is. Geoffr. 86 2. ruficaudatus, Grandid. 86 3. edwardsi, Forsyth Major 87 4. microdon, Forsyth Major 88

_Section B.--Species Minores._ 5. globiceps, Forsyth Major 89 6. grandidieri, Forsyth Major 89 7. leucopus, Forsyth Major 89

SUB-FAMILY IV. INDRISINÆ 90

I. AVAHIS, Jourdan 94 1. laniger (Gm.) 94

II. PROPITHECUS, Bennett 96 1. diadema, Bennett 98 [alpha]. sericeus 99 [beta]. edwardsi 99 2. verreauxi, Grandid. 100 [alpha]. deckeni 101 [beta]. coquereli 102 2a. majori, Rothschild 286 3. coronatus, Milne-Edwards 102

III. INDRIS, Cuv. et Geoffr. 105 1. brevicaudatus, Geoffr. 105

EXTINCT LEMUROIDEA 110

FAMILY I. MEGALADAPIDÆ 112 1. Megaladapis, Forsyth Major 112

FAMILY LEMURIDÆ 22, 114

FAMILY ANAPTOMORPHIDÆ 114 1. Microchærus, Wood 115 2. Mixodectes, Cope 116 3. Cynodontomys, Cope 116 4. Omomys, Leidy 117 5. Anaptomorphus, Cope 117

FAMILY ADAPIDÆ 119 1. Adapis, Cuvier 120 2. Tomitherium, Cope 120 3. Laopithecus, Marsh 121 4. Pelycodus, Cope 121 5. Microsyops, Leidy 122 6. Hyopsodus, Leidy 123

SUB-ORDER II.--ANTHROPOIDEA 123

FAMILY I. HAPALIDÆ 129

I. HAPALE, Illig. 131 1. jacchus (Linn.) 132 2. humeralifer, Geoffr. 133 3. aurita (Geoffr.) 133 4. leucopus, Günther 134 5. chrysoleuca, Wagn. 135 6. pygmæa (Spix) 135 7. melanura (Geoffr.) 136

II. MIDAS, Geoffr. 138 1. rosalia (Linn.) 138 2. geoffroyi (Pucher.) 139 3. oedipus (Linn.) 140 4. labiatus, Geoffr. 141 5. rufiventer, Gray 142 [alpha]. mystax, Spix 142 [beta]. pileatus, Is. Geoffr. 143 6. weddelli, Deville 143 7. nigrifrons, Geoffr. 143 8. fuscicollis, Spix 144 9. chrysopygus (Wagner) 144 10. nigricollis, Spix 145 11. illigeri (Pucher.) 145 12. bicolor, Spix 147 13. midas (Linn.) 148 14. ursulus, Geoffr. 148

FAMILY II. CEBIDÆ 150

SUB-FAMILY I. NYCTIPITHECINÆ 152

I. CHRYSOTHRIX, Kaup 152 1. usta (Is. Geoffr.) 154 2. entomophaga (d'Orb.) 155 3. sciurea (Linn.) 156 4. oerstedi, Reinh. 158

II. CALLITHRIX, Geoffr. 158 1. torquata (Hoffm.) 159 2. cuprea, Spix 160 3. amicta (Humb.) 161 4. cinerascens, Spix 161 5. moloch (Hoffm.) 162 6. ornata, Gray 162 7. personata, Geoffr. 163 8. nigrifrons, Spix 164 9. castaneiventris, Gray 164 10. melanochir, Neuwied 165 11. gigot, Spix 165

III. NYCTIPITHECUS, Spix 166 1. trivirgatus (Humb.) 168 2. lemurinus, Is. Geoffr. 168 3. rufipes, Sclater 169 4. azaræ (Humb.) 170 5. felinus, Spix 170

SUB-FAMILY II. PITHECIINÆ 173

I. BRACHYURUS, Spix 174 1. melanocephalus (Humb.) 175 2. rubicundus, Is. Geoffr. 176 3. calvus, Is. Geoffr. 177

II. PITHECIA, Geoffr. 182 1. monachus, Humb. and Bonpl. 182 2. pithecia (Linn.) 185 3. satanas (Hoffm.) 186 4. chiropotes (Humb.) 187 5. albinasa, Is. Geoffr. 188

SUB-FAMILY MYCETINÆ 189

I. ALOUATTA, Lacép. 192 1. seniculus, Linn. 192 2. nigra (Geoffr.) 195 3. beelzebul (L.) 197 4. ursina (Humb.) 198 5. villosa (Gray) 199 6. palliata (Gray) 202

SUB-FAMILY CEBINÆ 204

I. CEBUS, Erxl. 204 1. hypoleucus (Humb.) 207 2. lunatus, F. Cuv. 208 3. flavus, Geoffr. 208 4. monachus, F. Cuv. 209 5. fatuellus (Linn.) 211 6. variegatus, Geoffr. 211 7. cirrifer, Geoffr. 212 8. robustus, Kuhl. 212 9. annellatus, Gray 213 10. albifrons (Humb.) 213 11. capucinus (Linn.) 215 12. vellerosus, Is. Geoffr. 217 13. flavescens, Gray 217 14. chrysopus, F. Cuv. 218 15. subcristatus, Gray 218 16. capillatus, Gray 219 17. azaræ, Rennger 219 18. fallax, Schl. 220

II. LAGOTHRIX, Geoffr. 220 1. lagothrix (Humb.) 222 2. infumatus (Spix) 223

III. BRACHYTELES, Spix 224 1. arachnoides (Geoffr.) 226

IV. ATELES, Geoffr. 227 1. variegatus, Wagner 231 2. geoffroyi, Kuhl 233 3. rufiventris, Scl. 236 4. paniscus (Linn.) 237 5. marginatus, Kuhl 239 6. ater, F. Cuv. 241 7. grisescens, Gray 242 8. fusciceps, Gray 242 9. cucullatus, Gray 243 10. vellerosus, Gray 244

FAMILY CERCOPITHECIDÆ 249

SUB-FAMILY CERCOPITHECINÆ 252

I. PAPIO, Erxl. 253 1. maimon (Linn.) 258 2. leucophæus (F. Cuv.) 260 3. doguera (Pucher. and Schimp.) 262 4. porcarius (Bodd.) 263 5. babouin (Desm.) 265 6. anubis (F. Cuv. and Geoffr.) 266 7. thoth (Ogilby) 268 8. ibeanus, Thomas 269 9. sphynx (Geoffr.) 269 10. hamadryas (Linn.) 272 11. langheldi, Matschie 275

II. THEROPITHECUS, Is. Geoffr. 276 1. gelada (Rüpp.) 276 2. obscurus, Hengl. 278

III. CYNOPITHECUS, Is. Geoffr. 280 1. niger (Desm.) 281

LIST OF PLATES.

I.--Aye-Aye _Chiromys madagascariensis._ II.--Spectral Tarsier _Tarsius tarsius._ III.--Javan Slow-Loris _Nycticebus tardigradus._ IV.--Allen's Galago _Galago alleni._ V.--Black-eared Mouse-Lemur _Chirogale melanotis._ VI.--Smith's Dwarf-Lemur _Microcebus smithii._ VII.--Red-ruffed Lemur _Lemur ruber._ VIII.--Grey Gentle-Lemur _Hapalemur griseus._ IX.--White-footed Sportive-Lemur _Lepidolemur leucopus._ X.--Woolly Avahi _Avahis laniger._ XI.--Coquerel's Sifaka _Propithecus coquereli._ XII.--Endrina _Indris brevicaudatus._ XIII.--Geoffroy's Tamarin _Midas geoffroyi._ XIV.--Red Titi _Callithrix cuprea._ XV.--Red-footed Douroucouli or Night-Monkey _Nyctipithecus rufipes._ XVI.--Bald Uakari _Brachyurus calvus._ XVII.--White-nosed Saki _Pithecia albinasa._ XVIII.--Red Howler _Alouatta senicula._ XIX.--Smooth-headed Capuchin _Cebus monachus._ XX.--Humboldt's Woolly-Monkey _Lagothrix lagothrix._ XXI.--Variegated Spider-Monkey _Ateles variegatus._ XXII.--Drill _Papio leucophæus._

{1}_ALLEN'S NATURALIST'S LIBRARY._

MAMMALS.

ORDER PRIMATES.

LEMURS, MONKEYS AND APES.

INTRODUCTION.

Of the varied forms of animal life that people the globe, those that possess a back-bone and two pairs of limbs (the VERTEBRATA) are considered the highest in the scale. Of the _Vertebrata_, those are held to be of superior organisation which possess warm red blood and suckle their young with milk from the breast (_i.e._, MAMMALIA). Our present volume deals with the highest and most specialised group of the Mammalia, and, therefore, of the whole Animal Kingdom.

Man, in respect of his mental endowments, stands alone and unapproachable among living creatures. Considered as to his "place in nature," however, he must be described as an erect-walking Mammal, possessing anterior extremities developed into hands of great perfection, for exclusive use as tactile and grasping organs, and posterior limbs, on which his body is perfectly balanced and entirely supported, exclusively devoted to locomotion, as well as highly specialised cerebral characters. These attributes in part constitute the standard by which we estimate superiority in animal structure, and fitness of adaptation.

Notwithstanding the numerous varieties and races of {2}mankind distributed over every region of the globe, each exhibiting differences in habits, customs and superficial complexion, Man forms but one species, _Homo sapiens_, the sole representative of the unique genus of his family. Though the genus _Homo_ is thus far apparently zoologically isolated, there is a remarkable group of animals, which we designate "Apes," and which, possessing many of the same structural characters more or less modified, stand apart from all the other Mammalia, and make a distinct approach to Man. Between Man, however, and the Apes, even the untrained eye at once perceives, amid obvious marks of inferiority, unmistakable resemblances, while anatomical investigations reveal that "the points in which Man differs from the Apes most nearly resembling him, are not of greater importance than those in which the Ape differs from other and universally acknowledged members of the group." (_Flower_ and _Lydekker_.) The Apes, on the other hand, are so nearly related to the Monkeys, the Baboons and the Marmosets, by characters which insensibly merge into each other that they, along with Man, must logically be embraced in the same zoological division. The animals known to us as Lemurs, called by the Germans "Half-Apes" and by the French "False-Monkeys," are the nearest to the Apes and Man of all the remaining Mammals, though there are many points of divergence from the above-named groups. The Lemurs, in fact, exhibit considerable affinity to lower forms of Mammalia, especially to the Insectivora, but in internal structure and habit they approach the Anthropiform[1] group just referred to--in the flattened form of the digits, the opposable great toe, with its ankle-bone (the ento-cuneiform) rounded for its articulation, as in the higher Apes and Man.

{3}The Lemurs have, by many distinguished naturalists, been relegated to a distinct Order quite separate from the latter; but by such pre-eminent authorities as Linnæus, Lesson, Huxley, Broca and Flower, they have been assigned a subordinate position within that great Order, on which has been conferred the rank of the Primates of the Animal Kingdom.

The Order PRIMATES, therefore, comprises two very homogeneous sub-orders--(1) The Lemur-like animals (LEMUROIDEA) including the Aye-Aye, the Tarsier, and the True Lemurs; and (2) the Man-like animals (the ANTHROPOIDEA), which embrace the Marmosets, the Baboons, the great Apes, and Man.

In common with all other Mammals, the Primates are furnished with an epidermal covering, which, except in Man, consists of a woolly or hairy fur. They possess four limbs and a tail, which may be long, short, or concealed, and which is often used as a prehensile organ. The young are born in a condition of greater or less helplessness, with their eyes, as a rule, unopened, and the framework of their bodies incompletely ossified, and consequently requiring protective care and entire nourishment from the mother, for a considerable period. At maturity this skeleton consists of a skull, a breast- and a back-bone of many pieces, ribs, jointed limbs, and a pair of collar-bones. As a knowledge of many of these bones and some of the more prominent organs of the body are necessary for an accurate comprehension of the description and classification of the animals discussed in this volume, a few of the more important must be briefly referred to.