Chapter XII: The Tcheli Macaque. Macacus Tcheliensis

_Macacus tcheliensis_, Milne Edwards, Rech. Mamm., p. 227, pls. xxxii.
and xxxiii. (1868-1874); A. David, Journ. North China Branch As. Soc.,
1873, p. 230.

_Macacus rhesus_ (nec Audeb.), Scl., P. Z. S., 1871, p. 222.

{27}_Macacus erythræus_, Schl., Mus. Pays-Bas, vii., p. 112 (1876).

_Macacus lasiotis_, Anderson, Zool. Exped. Yun-nan, p. 83 (1878 pt.).

CHARACTERS.--The _Macacus tcheliensis_ is another species with a very close affinity to _M. rhesus_, and to _M. lasiotis_. Dr. Anderson, indeed, has united the Tcheli and the Hairy-eared Macaques under one species; while Dr. Sclater is not prepared to consider either of them, or _M. cyclopis_ in addition, to be distinct from _M. rhesus_.

_M. tcheliensis_ has the tail as long only as the hind foot, and densely clothed with long hair. Fur rather long, soft, and silky, and thicker than in the normal _M. rhesus_. General colour brilliant reddish-fawn, especially on the hinder part of the back and on the tail; sides of the cheeks and shoulders greyish, the yellow rings of the hair being absent; under surface of the body and inner side of the limbs grey; hands and feet greyish-fawn.

The skulls of _M. lasiotis_ and _M. tcheliensis_ are scarcely distinguishable from each other.

DISTRIBUTION.--North China. Dr. Bushell, of H.M. Legation in Pekin, who was the first to send this rare Monkey to Europe, writes, in a letter dated 17th January, 1880: "It was obtained by me from the mountains near Yung-ling or Eastern Mausoleum, of the reigning Manchu dynasty, situated about 70 li from Pekin, in latitude 40° N. It is covered with a thick fur fitted to endure the bitterly cold winter of this part of North China, where the thermometer frequently goes down to 10° below zero."

HABITS.--Nothing has yet been recorded of the habits of this Macaque in a state of nature.

{28}XIII. ST. JOHN'S MACAQUE. MACACUS SANCTI-JOHANNIS.

(_Plate XXVI._)

_Inuus sancti-johannis_, Swinhoe, P. Z. S., 1866, p. 556.

_Macacus sancti-johannis_, Gray, Cat. Monkeys, Brit. Mus. App., p. 129
(1870; in part); Sclater, P. Z. S., 1871, p. 222; Anderson, Zool. Exped.
Yun-nan, p. 86 (1878).

_Macacus rhesus_, pt. Sclater, P. Z. S., 1871, p. 222.

_Macacus erythræus_, pt. Schl., Mus. Pays-Bas, vii., p. 112 (1876).

CHARACTERS.--Male unknown.

YOUNG FEMALE.--Appears to be allied most nearly to _M. lasiotis_. Face narrow and somewhat projecting; eyes bright hazel; face and ears flesh-coloured; a black whisker-like tuft on either cheek; skin of the upper parts tinted with blue, and sparsely covered with hairs of a light grey; hairs of the belly buff; fur of the upper parts greyish-brown, washed with buff, which is lighter on the head, and brick-dust-red round about the rump. Tail, 4½ inches long, blackish; callosities flesh-coloured. (_Swinhoe._)

DISTRIBUTION.--China; North Lena Island, and most of the small islands near Hong Kong.

HABITS.--Nothing is known of the habits of St. John's Macaque. "Dried bodies of this animal," writes Mr. Swinhoe its describer, "split in two are often exhibited hanging from the ceiling in druggists' shops, in Canton and Hong Kong; and its bones are used for medicinal purposes."