544 



MINUTE LEMURS 



Chiromys, differ from the African forms by the fact that the 

 tympanic ring " is completely enclosed by the bulla ossea, but 

 without osseous connexion with the same." This character he 



FIG. 260. Smith's Dwarf Lemur. Microcebus smithii. x f. 



thinks so important as to justify the inclusion of all the 

 Mascarene forms in one group as opposed to another group 

 consisting of the continental Lemurs. In this event Chirogale 



FIG. 261. Mouse Lemur. Chirogale coquereli. x ^. 



will have to be separated from its close association with Galago. 

 For the present, however, it is left in the more generally accepted 

 position. 



Microcebus contains the most minute among the Lemurs. M. 

 smithii has a body only 5 inches long, the tail being another 

 6 inches. It occurs in Madagascar, and includes five species. 



Opolemur, the Fat-tailed Lemur, was so called on account of a 



