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Show 1880.] MR. W. A. FORBES ON THE UAKARI MONREYS. 615 sentative form of P. chiropotes, I am unable to agree with Dr. Gray (/. c.) as to Spix "having evidently described the teeth &c. of his first species in his generic character," for I find the characters there given apply equally well to both the forms under consideration. Indeed, as the "character essentialis " of the genus Brachyurus is " Cauda non volubili, abbreviata," B. israelita, in which that organ is of the normal length, can in no way be considered the type of the genus. With certain other points, too, of tbe " descriptio " there given, B. oualcary corresponds better than the first species. I therefore agree with Isidore Geoffroy (Exped. Am. Sud, Mammif. p. 18) in retaining the generic name Brachyurus, of which Ouaiaria thus becomes a synonym1. As regards the species of this genus, there are three well-ones, each inhabiting a distinct geographical area ; of each of these I have seen skins and skulls. They may be arranged as follows:- a. Facie nigra. 1. B R A C H Y U R U S MELANOCEPHALUS. (Plate LXIII.) Simia melanocephala (Cacajao), Humboldt, Rec. pl. xxix. p. 317 (1811). Pithecia melanocephala, Geoffr. Ann. Mus. xix. p. 117 (1812). Brachyurus oualcary, Spix, Sim. et Vesp. Bras. p. 12, pl. viii. (1823). ' Oueil'aria spixii, Gray, P. Z. S. 1849, p. 10, fig. Ouaiaria melanocephala, Gray, Cat. Monkeys &c. p. 62 (1870). Pithecia melanocephala, Schlegel, Mus. P.-B. vii. p. 227 (1876). Ater, dorso lateribusque cum brachiis posticis plus minusve castaneo-brunneis. Hab. Forests traversed by the Casiquiare and Rio Negro (Humboldt); forests between the Solimoes and lea (Spix) ; Mara-bitanas, Rio Negro, and Moura, Rio Branco (Natterer, fide Pelzeln apud Schegel, I.e.). This species is at once distinguishable by its black face, as well as by the black hands, feet, &c. It is the most northern form of the three, and apparently the most wide-spreading also. No doubt it is the " black-faced, grey-haired" species heard of, but not obtained, by Mr. Bates as being found " 180 miles from the mouth of the Japura" (Nat. Amaz. ii. p. 313). Of this species we have, at different times, had two specimens living in the Gardens (vide Sclater, P.Z.S. 1870, p. 1). From 1 The name Brachyurus has also been used, but erroneously (cf. Sclater, ' Ibis,' 1877, p. 260), for the Ant-Thrushes (Pitta). Mr. Alston has, since this paper was read, pointed out to m e that the same term also had been proposed some years previously to Spix by Fischer (' Zoognosia,' i. p. 24) for a genus of Eodentia (1813). As, however, this name has never, I believe, been adopted for use in that group, it seems to m e quite unnecessary, on that ground, to reject the name for the Uakaris. Purists will have, I suppose, to adopt Lesson's barbarous term, proposed as a subgenus, Cacajao (Species des Mammiferes, p. 181, 1840). |
