4 ON THE LEMURID.E: OR, 



fying ghosts or spirits), was applied originally to the Slow-paced Loris, in 

 reference to its nocturnal habits, and has since been extended to the whole of 

 the family, of which it is the type. 



The Lemuridce are distinguished as a natural group, by the following cha- 

 racters : — The body is long and slender, the head is pointed, and somewhat Fox- 

 like, the nostrils have a sinuous opening, terminating a sharp naked muzzle, some- 

 what prominent ; the eyes are large, and of a nocturnal character. The ears in 

 some are small, and more or less concealed in the fur, in others large, membra- 

 nous, and naked. The limbs are long, especially the posterior pair, which usually 

 exceed the anterior. — The fore hands have a true thumb, and the index finger is 

 often abbreviated. The feet or hind hands have a large thumb, greatly expanded at 

 the tip; the index finger (of the hind hand) is slender, and armed with a long, 

 subulate, and somewhat curved, claw. The nails of the other fingers, like those 

 of the forehands, are flat and rounded. The body is covered with full, soft, woolly 

 fur. The tail varies, being wanting or reduced to a mere tubercle in some, while in 

 others it is long, and more or less bushy, but not prehensile. — On looking at the 

 skull, which bears a very distinct resemblance to that of the Monkey, we find the 

 orbits obliquely lateral, surrounded with a perfect margin, but opening within into 

 the temporal fossa, which latter is not the case in Monkeys, the internal walls of the 

 orbit being complete, as in man. The occipital foramen has a posterior situation, 

 as in the Dog, so that the head is in no degree balanced upon the spinal column, 

 but depends from it altogether. The upper incisors, four in number, are placed 

 literally in pairs, with an intermediate space in front, in which are received, to a 

 certain degree, the points ol the incisors of the lower jaw. These are six in 

 number, laterally compressed, arranged side by side closely together, not in a 

 vertical position, but projecting obliquely forwards, and converging to a point. In 

 some species the two outermost incisors of the upper jaw are very small, and 

 often lost, so that naturalists have regarded their number in such species to be 

 but two ; whereas it is in reality four. The canines are long, recurved, and com- 

 pressed with a posterior cutting edge, and a sharp point. The false molars are 

 pointed ; the true molars are crowned with sharp conical tubercles, and interlock 

 with each other, — reminding us very strongly of those of the Insectivora. In 

 conformity with this dentition, the Lemuridce feed upon a mixed diet of animal 

 and vegetable substances. They are, however, as a whole, more frugivorous 

 than carnivorous, giving preference to fruits, roots, and the like. Eggs, insects, 

 and small birds, are pursued by the slow, cautious Loris with great perseverance ; 

 but if we may judge from specimens in captivity, the true Lemurs ( Makis or 

 Macaucos) seldom make living animals their prey. Their bite is severe. 



The Lemuridce are all arboreal ; they tenant the depths of the forest, and 

 sleep during the day ; the twilight of evening or the obscurity of night, while 



