Chapter XXXVII: The Diana Guenon. Cercopithecus Diana

_Simia diana_, Linn., Syst. Nat., i., p. 38 (1766).

{80}_Cercopithecus diana_, Erxleb., Syst. Regne An., p. 30 (1777);
Desmar., Mamm., p. 60 (1820); Martin, Mammif. An., p. 523 (1841);
Geoffr., Dict. Hist. Nat., iii., p. 304 (1849); Wagner in Schreb.
Säugeth. Suppl., v., p. 48 (1855); Gray, Cat. Monkeys Brit. Mus., p. 22
(1870; pt.); Schl., Mus. Pays-Bas, vii., p. 92 (1876; pt.); Jentink,
Notes, Leyd. Mus., x., p. 12; Sclater, P. Z. S., 1893, p. 254.

_Cercopithecus diana_, var. _ignita_, Gray, Cat. Monkeys Brit. Mus., p.
22 (1870).

CHARACTERS.--Face black. Sides of face with long bushy whiskers, terminating on the chin in a pointed white beard a few inches long; across the forehead run two arched lines of erect hairs, the lower black, the upper white; top of the head, back of the neck, shoulders, the sides, middle of belly, ashy-grey--the hairs being white and black ringed, and white-tipped; outside of limbs darker, the hands black; tail grey, the tip black; neck, chest, and anterior part of the arms white; from the middle of the back a deep chestnut spot extends, and widens to the root of the tail; from the base of the tail, the outer aspect of the thighs, white; posterior part of under side of body and inner side of thighs, orange-yellow, or orange red, or bright red bay (_C. ignita_ of Gray). Length of body, 18 inches; of tail, 24 inches.

DISTRIBUTION.--West Africa: from Liberia to the Congo.

HABITS.--This beautiful and graceful Monkey is not uncommon in captivity, and nearly all we know of its habits has been obtained from such specimens. "Like the rest of its tribe," writes Mr. Martin, "it is gentle, lively, active, and familiar while young, but as age advances it becomes reserved and treacherous.... Its frontal crest of white hairs, and its white peaked beard 'of formal cut,' give a singular aspect to its physiognomy. This latter ornament it has been observed, so Mr. Ogilby states, to be solicitous in keeping neat and clean; when about to drink it takes the beard in its hand with amazing gravity, and holds it back in order to prevent it from dipping into the fluid."

PLATE XXXI.

{81}XXXVIII. THE PALATINE GUENON. CERCOPITHECUS PALATINUS.

_Le Roloway_ ou _la Palatine_, Buff., Hist. Nat. Suppl., xv., p. 77
(1789).

_Cercopithecus roloway_, Erxleb., Syst. Régn. An., p. 42 (1777); Geoffr.,
Dict. Hist. Nat., iii., p. 304 (1849); Fisch., Synop. Mamm., p. 20
(1829).

_Cercopithecus palatinus_, Wagner, in Schreb. Säugeth. Suppl., v., p. 47
(1855); Scl., P. Z. S., 1893, p. 257.

_Cercopithecus diana_, Gray, Cat. Monkeys Brit. Mus., p. 22 (1870; pt.);
Schl., Mus. Pays-Bas, vii., p. 92 (1876; pt.).

CHARACTERS.--Very similar to _C. diana_, but differs in having the back very dark brown, nearly black, instead of chestnut; the head, flanks, thighs, limbs dark grey; where the belly in _C. diana_ is black, in _C. palatinus_ it is white.

DISTRIBUTION.--Gold Coast.