Chapter VIII: The Angolan Guereza. Colobus Angolensis

_Colobus angolensis_, Sclater, P. Z. S., 1860, p. 245; Reichenb., Naturg.
Affen, p. 88 (1862); Gray, P. Z. S., 1868, p. 181; id., Cat. Monkeys
Brit. Mus., p. 18 (1870); Schl., Mus. Pays-Bas, p. 24 (1876); Rochebr.,
Faun. Sénég., Suppl. Mamm., p. 119; Bocage, Jorn. Sc. Lisb., 1889, p. 10;
Matschie, S.B. Ges. Nat. Fr. Berlin, 1892, p. 226.

_Colobus palliatus_, Peters, M. B. Akad. Berl., 1868, p. 637; id., op.
cit., 1879, p. 830, pl. iv.A.; Gray, Ann. Mag. N. H. (4) iii., p. 171
(1869); Sclater, P. Z. S., 1880, p. 68; Matschie, S.B. Ges. Natur. Fr.
Berlin, 1892, p. 227.

_Guereza angolensis_ et _G. palliatus_, Trouess. Consp. Mamm., pp. 10 and
20 (1879).

CHARACTERS.--Face and ears naked, black; hair radiating round the face, long, and directed backward, especially on the temples and sides of the face, and on the shoulders, where it forms a lengthy mantle; hairs on the top of the head shorter than on the back. General colour deep glossy black, except the frontal band over the eyes, the temporal hairs, whiskers and mantle, which are white. Tail long and black, except for the terminal third, which is white, and has a thick tufted tip; a white spot on the perinæum. Length of body, 23½ inches; of tail, 34 inches.

DISTRIBUTION.--East Africa: the valley of the Pangani. Said to extend to Angola on the south-west coast.

{97}IX. RUPPELL'S GUEREZA. COLOBUS GUEREZA.

_Colobus guereza_, Rüpp, Neue Wirbelth. Saügeth., p. 1, pl. 1 (1835);
Lesson, Spec. Mamm., p. 68 (1840); Martin, Mammif. An., p. 494 (1841);
Is. Geoffr., Dict. H. N., iv., p. 117 (1849); id., Cat. Méth. Primates,
p. 17 (1851); Temm., Esquiss. Zool. Guin., p. 23 (1853); Dahlb., Zool.
Stud., i., p. 95 (1857); Sclater, P. Z. S., 1860, p. 246; Gray, P. Z. S.,
1868, p. 182; Schl., Mus. Pays-Bas, vii., p. 25 (1876); Thomas, P. Z. S.,
1885, p. 219; Matschie, S. B. Gesell. Natur. Fr. Berlin, 1892, p. 225, et
seqq.

_Guereza rueppelli_, Gray, Cat. Monkeys Brit. Mus., p. 19 (1870);
Rochebr., Faun. Sénégamb., i., Mamm., p. 25 (1885); id., t.c., suppl., p.
129, pl. xi. (1887).

_Guereza guereza_, Trouess., Consp. Mamm., p. 10 (1879.)

_Guereza occidentalis_, Rochebr., _op. cit._, Suppl., p. 140, pl. xiii.
(1887).

CHARACTERS.--Face thinly covered with greyish-white hairs; nose and upper lip black; ears, naked, black; a bar across the forehead, expanding on the sides of the head, throat, sides of the neck, and chin, white; from the shoulders a mantle of long white silky hairs extending down each side and meeting on the lower back, so as to hang down over the sides of the body, the hips, and thighs; the outside of the latter greyish-white; the hinder third of the tail tufted and white, each hair ringed with numerous fine bands of brown; the whole of the rest of the body deep shining black. Length of the body, 28 inches; of the tail, 28½.

DISTRIBUTION.--This remarkably beautiful Monkey inhabits North-Eastern Africa, where it is not uncommon in the {98}provinces of Godjan and the kingdom of Shoa. Dr. Blanford, however, did not hear of it during his journey with the British army to Magdala. It is found also in the neighbourhood of Mount Kilimanjaro, and was shot in the forested plains near the coast by Mr. H. H. Johnston. The form of this species which has been described under the name of _C. occidentalis_ is more or less confined to the south of Lulongo, in the Upper Congo, between 6° N. latitude and 12° East longitude.

HABITS.--The "Guereza," as the natives of Abyssinia name this species, lives in small troops in the very highest trees of the forest, in the neighbourhood of streams. It is very active and lively, and quite harmless in disposition. The food of this _Colobus_ consists of wild fruits, insects, and such like, which it searches for throughout the day only, retiring during the night. "The _Colobus_ Monkey," observes Mr. H. H. Johnston, "is almost the only one that quite avoids the neighbourhood of Man; the other genera frequent the vicinity of native plantations, and doubtless profit by the abundance of cultivated food." The skin of this Monkey is in great request among the Masai warriors both for dresses, capes, and caps, the long white mantle of the creature forming a most ornamental costume; and also to cover their shields with.