Chapter XVII: The Vervet Guenon. Cercopithecus Pygerythrus

_Cercopithecus pygerythra_ (Le Vervet), F. Cuvier, Hist. Nat. Mamm.,
iii., livr. xxiv. (Janvier, 1821).

_Cercopithecus pygerithræus_, Desmarest, Mamm., Suppl., p. 534 (1820).

_Cercopithecus pygerythrus_, Lesson, Spec. des Mamm. Bimanes et Quadrum.,
p. 83 (1840); Geoffr., Dict. Hist. Nat., iii., p. 305 (1849); id., Cat.
Méth. Primates, p. 21 (1851); Wagner, in Schreb. Säugeth., v., p. 39
(1855); Peters, Reis. Mossamb. Säugeth., p. 4; Martin, Mammif. An., p.
521 (1841); Schl., Mus. Pays Bas, vii., p. 76 (1876); Thomas, P. Z. S.,
1885, p. 219; H. H. Johnston, Kilimanjaro Exped., p. 352 (1886); Scl., P.
Z. S., 1893, p. 249 (nec Martin, nec. Schl.).

_Cercopithecus pusillus_, Delalande in Desmoul, Dict. Class., vii., p.
568.

_Cercopithecus lalandii_, Geoffr., Dict. d'Hist. Nat., iii., p. 305
(1849); Wagner, in Schreber's Säugeth., v., p. 39 (1855); Sclater, P. Z.
S., 1893, pp. 248 and 615.

_Cercopithecus rufo-viridis_, Is. Geoffr., C. R., xv., p. 1038 (1842);
Scl., P. Z. S., 1860, p. 420.

_Chlorocebus pygerythrus_, Gray, Cat. Monkeys Brit. Mus, p. 25 (1870).

CHARACTERS.--Very nearly allied to the Grivet (_C. sabæus_), to the Malbrouck (_C. cynosurus_), and to the last species, the Green Guenon. Distinguished from the Grivet by the chin, the hands and the feet, beyond the ankle, and the wrist being very black, instead of grey; and the tip of the tail (or its {61}entire length) black, instead of being grey or yellow, as in the Malbrouck. It differs from both the Malbrouck and Grivet in having, according to Martin, long coarse fur, greyer in tint above, with a slighter wash of olive (= _C. lalandii_ of Geoffroy); or in being more reddish-yellow or yellowish-green above (the true _C. pygerythrus_); also by having conspicuous superciliary bristles. The less thick and heavy muzzle and the green scrotal region distinguish it from the Malbrouck; the rust-red coloured hair on the space below the root of the tail distinguishes it from the Grivet. Length of body, 22 inches; tail, 27 inches.

The female is slightly smaller than the male.

DISTRIBUTION.--South Africa: Cape Colony. "The Vervet is common in the forests along the Great Fish river, and other streams between Algoa Bay and Cape Town. Its range extends also along the Natal coast, throughout the Amakozi country, and Caffreland generally." (_Martin._) Zambesia. On Kilimanjaro. Mr. H. H. Johnston observed it to be common, at 5,000 feet, in the cultivated gardens round the village of Moshi, and in the forests lower down, at Taveita.

HABITS.--Their food consists of fruits, and particularly of the gum which exudes from various species of Acacia. In confinement, when irritated, they utter, it is said, a barking noise, display their teeth, and gaze with hatred in their eyes. They are very treacherous, ferocious, and daring, and their cage requires to be approached with much precaution. Mr. Johnston, when living on the slopes of Kilimanjaro, found them to be exceedingly familiar and mischievous, and given to stealing fruits, &c. They are entirely without the fear of Man.

This Monkey is very commonly to be seen alive in European {62}menageries, where it appears to stand the northern climate fairly well. At a meeting of the Zoological Society in November, 1893, Dr. Sclater remarked that _Cercopithecus callitrichus_ (= _C. pygerythrus_) had recently bred in the Gardens. Concerning the latter birth a curious fact had been observed and reported by the keepers--that the young Monkey, which lived about two months, had been in the habit of sucking both of the mother's teats at once.