110 



lanx (the only phalanx free) being barely large enough to support a 

 rounded nail, which does not exist on the specimen, but of which 

 there is an apparent cicatrix ; the nails of all the other fingers are 

 flat and rounded. Those of the hinder hands are similar, except that 

 of the fore-finger, which, as in the Lemurs generally, is long, subulate, 

 and curved. The tail is of moderate length, and covered with hairs 

 resembling those of the body. The hairs generally are long, soft, 

 and woolly ; each of them being mouse-coloured at the base ; rufous 

 in the middle, and paler at the tip ; some few are tipped with white. 

 Hence results on the upper surface and on the outsides of the limb a 

 chestnut colour with a slight mixture of grey : the under surface is 

 much paler. The muzzle and chin are almost naked, having only a 

 few scattered whitish hairs. 



The measurements of the specimen are : length of the head, 2 

 inches 2 tenths -, of the body, 6 inches j of the tail, 1 inch 6 tenths, 

 or including the hair, 2 inches 3 tenths. The breadth of the head in 

 front of the ears is 1 inch 4 tenths : the distance between the eyes, 

 4 tenths ; from the anterior angle of the eye to the end of the nose, 

 7 tenths j from the eye to the ear, 7\ tenths : length of ears be- 

 hind, 5, of their aperture 8, breadth 5 tenths of an inch. 



Anterior Limbs. Posterior Limbs. 



in. 



femur 1*8 



tibia 1*9 



from os calcis to end of 4th 



(longest) finger ... 2'3 

 thumb with metatarsal bone 1*1 

 fore-finger (including nail 2*5) *8 



3rd finger '9 



4th finger 1'2 



5th finger *9 



span 27 



in. 



humerus . 1*7 



ulna 2*1 



carpus to end of 4th (longest) 



finger 1*8 



thumb with metacarpal bone 1*0 



fore-finger *4 



— last joint (all that is free) • 1 



3rd finger . . . . „ -9 



4th finger 1*1 



5th finger *9 



span 2*4 



By the comparative length of the tail the genus Perodicticus is 

 readily distinguishable from the other Lemuridce. In this, in the mo- 

 derate elongation of the face, in the moderate size of the ears, in the 

 equality of the limbs, and especially in the extreme shortness of the 

 index of the anterior hands, reside its essential characters. The 

 latter character is especially important, and may be regarded as indi- 

 cating its typical station in a family, all of which are distinguished 

 from the neighbouring groups by a variation in the form of the index 

 or of its appendages. In the Lemuridce generally the nail of the 

 index of the hinder hands is elongated and claw-shaped, and unlike 

 those of the other fingers, which are flat as in the Monkeys. This is 

 frequently accompanied by an abbreviation of the index of the fore- 

 hands, which becomes in Loris, Geoff., very considerable, and is in 

 Perodicticus carried to its maximum, that organ being here almost 

 obsolete. 



The habits of the animal are described by Mr. Boyle as " slothful 



