FAMILY OF LEMURS. II 



much, that we cannot avoid believing, that if not identically the same, at all 

 events they are intimately related ; but as we have never seen the Indris longi- 

 caudatus of Geoffroy, it would be unsafe to hazard any positive opinion. 



The true Lemurs appear to be restricted to the genera, — Lemur (as the type), 

 Indris and Propithecus ; the two latter depart, as we have seen, in some points, 

 and especially in their dental formula, from the normal group. In the genus 

 Lemur, the incisors of the upper jaw are dilated at their cutting edges ; but in 

 Propithecus this dilitation is carried out to a greater extent, so as to approximate 

 them in form to those of the Monkey. With respect to the position of the canine 

 teeth, there is a peculiarity in the Lemurs which demands notice. If we 

 examine the teeth of a Monkey, we see that the canines of the lower jaw, when 

 the mouth is closed, advance and fit in before those of the upper jaw ; and this 

 position of the canines, with relationship to each other, is the general rule. It 

 obtains throughout the Camivora ; we see it in the Hog, and the Horse, of which 

 the male has tusks in both jaws. It is in fact a standard rule. — If, however, we 

 turn to the Lemurs, we find a remarkable exception. In the genus Lemur, the 

 canines of the lower jaw close behind and to the inside of the posterior edge of 

 those of the upper, the anterior margin of the former (that is the lower canines) 

 wearing against the latter. From this circumstance, Geoffroy St. Hilaire has 

 been induced to consider the two outer incisors of the lower jaw, which are larger 

 than the intermediate ones, as the true canines. This idea, however, will not 

 stand the test of scrutiny. For the outer incisors of the lower jaw have neither 

 the form, the position, nor the use of canines; whereas, though they do close 

 behind their antagonists, the canines of the lower jaw have the true figure and 

 usa of such teeth. Moreover, in the genera Indris and Propithecus, in which the 

 upper incisors are four, and not six, the canines of the lower jaw also close behind 

 those of the upper ; and if they are not to be considered in the light of genuine 

 canines, what are I — for the incisors here are only four. In the skull of a 

 little Lemuridous animal (Microceleus murinus) now before us, which closely 

 resembles the Lemur in dentition, the point of the lower canines (which 

 advance obliquely forwards) bears completely against the inner side of the upper 

 incisors, but still rather behind them, the body of the lower canines filling a space 

 between the canines of the upper jaw and the succeeding false molar. 



We find, then, this arrangement of the canines obtaining through the whole 

 of the Lemuridous family, till we come to that strangely aberrant form, the 

 Flying Lemur or Galiopihecus ( Galeopithecus ) , an animal constituting the 

 type of a distinct group, in which canines are altogether wanting. We cannot 

 avoid observing, that M. F. Cuvier, in his work entitled Des Dents des Mammi- 

 feres considers, characterizes lemuridous animals as having six incisors above 

 and six below, the reciprocal position of the teeth being as in Monkeys. We 



