The members of this group have a distinct nose-spot of white, red, or blue.
I. THE LESSER WHITE-NOSED GUENON CERCOPITHECUS PETAURISTA.
Simia petaurista, Schreb., Saügeth., i., p. 103, pl. xix. B (1775).
Blanc-nez, Buff., Hist. Nat., Suppl., vii., p. 67 (1789).
Cercopithecus petaurista, Erxl., Syst. Regn. An., p. 35 (1777); Martin, Mammif. An., p. 539 (1841); Wagn. in Schreber's Säugeth., Suppl., v., p. 250 (1855); Gray, Cat. Monkeys Brit. Mus., p. 20 (1870); Schleg., Mus. Pays-Bas, vii., p. 86 (1876); Scl., P. Z. S., 1893, p. 244.
Ascagne (Cercopithecus ascanius), Audeb., Hist. Nat. Singes, Fam. iv., Sect. ii., fig. xiii.; F. Cuvier, Nat. Hist., Mamm., i., livr. xiv. (Fev., 1820).
Characters.—Head round, the forehead rather elevated; nose broad; face and nose covered with short hairs; whiskers short; chin bearded. Head, back, upper side of tail, olive-green—the hairs grey at the base—ringed with darker or lighter yellow and black; facial hairs black, slightly washed with fulvous on the cheeks; skin below bluish-red or violet; lower part of the nose and half of the upper lip white; whiskers and beard white; line across the forehead above the eyes and the ears, and encircling the crown behind, black; a pencil of hair below the ears directed backward, white; throat, chest, under side of body, inside of limbs and under side of tail white; posterior aspect of fore-arms and legs grey, washed with olive; naked parts of chin, ears, and hands purplish-black.
Distribution.—West Africa: Gold Coast and Sierra Leone.
Habits.—The Ascagne, as this animal is also named, is the most common of the Guenons seen in menageries. It is gentle, graceful, and lively. They are perpetually in motion, "gambolling with their companions, and pursuing or being pursued by them, in the exuberance of playfulness. They are at the same time docile and familiar, but dislike to be taken hold of, or interfered with." (Martin.) Allamand says that his specimen, which was in general very gentle, became angry when interrupted while eating, or if it was gibed at, but its irritation did not last long.
II. JENTINK'S GUENON. CERCOPITHECUS SIGNATUS.