762 MAMMALIA. 



Order PROSIMLK (Syn. LEMUROIDEA, Lemurs). 



These monkey-like animals are sometimes ranked with 

 monkeys as a sub-order of Primates ; but there seems more 

 warrant for placing them in a separate order. They agree 

 with monkeys in many respects, e.g. in having pollex and 

 hallux opposable, flattened digits, pectoral mammae (except 

 in Chiromys\ and a "Simian fissure" in the brain. They 

 differ from monkeys (Anthropoidea) in the following 

 points :--The cranial cavity is usually elongated, and the 

 face more fox-like than monkey-like ; the orbit opens freely 

 into the temporal fossa (except in Tarsius) ; the lachrymal 

 foramen lies in front of the orbit ; the first pair of upper 

 incisors is separated in the middle line (except in Tarsius) ; 

 the second digit of the foot always bears a pointed claw, 

 but the others usually have flat nails ; the cerebral hemi- 

 spheres are but slightly convoluted, and do not completely 

 overlap the cerebellum (except in Indrisinse) ; the middle 

 or transverse portion of the colon is almost always folded 

 or convoluted on itself; there may be abdominal and 

 inguinal as well as pectoral mammae ; the uterus is bicor- 

 nuate ; the urethra perforates the clitoris (except in 

 Chiromys) ; the placenta is diffuse and non-deciduate except 

 in Tarsius, where it is metadiscoidal and deciduate. 

 Among other features we may note that the Lemurs are 

 plantigrade and usually pentadactyl ; the tail (sometimes 

 reduced) is never prehensile ; the mandibles are often 

 unfused at the junction ; in the Madagascar forms the 

 tympanic remains a half ring within the bulla which is 

 due to the periotic ; the carpus has a centrale usually 

 free ; there is a large caecum without a vermiform appendix ; 

 there are often retia mirabilia on some of the arteries and 

 veins. 



The lemurs are small, furry quadrupeds, with fox-like 

 faces but the general appearance of monkeys. Most are 

 nocturnal, all arboreal. They feed on fruits and leaves, 

 on eggs and small animals. Most are loud-voiced. They 

 are usually uniparous. 



