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 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 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.
XVIII. THE TANTALUS GUENON. CERCOPITHECUS TANTALUS.
Cercopithecus tantalus, Ogilby, P. Z. S., 1841, p. 33; Sclater, P. Z. S., 1893, p. 258; Schl., Mus. Pays-Bas, vii., p. 73 (1876).
Cercocebus tantalus, var. f., Gray, Cat. Monkeys Brit. Mus., p. 26 (1870).
Characters.—Head rounder and face shorter than in C. callitrichus. Face covered with very short hairs; nose prominent, and narrow between the eyes, flatter and broader towards the tip. Head, back, and sides, a mixture of yellowish-brown and green, of the same shade as prevails in the upper parts of C. callitrichus and C. pygerythrus; outer surface of the limbs clearer ashy-grey; whiskers, throat, breast, under side of the body, and inner side of the limbs, yellowish-white; tail brown at the root, pale grey at the tip; back of hands and feet light grey; face livid flesh-colour round the eyes, the short hairs on the nose and cheeks black; lips light brown; eyebrows black, surmounted by a broad white band across the forehead; scrotal region covered with yellowish hairs. (Ogilby.)