-^ Fauna : Mammals 



like pupils, are pale yellow. A marked peculiarity of the hands 

 is the reduction of the first or index finger to a mere rudiment. 

 The potto has another remarkable peculiarity, perhaps unique 

 in existing mammals : the spinous processes of the vertebrae 

 of the neck are, in the case of tour or five of these vertebras, 

 much elongated, and their points project beyond the muscular 

 integument and almost beyond the skin, the tips being merely 

 covered with a thin cuticle, so that they torm a series of knobs 

 along the back of the neck. As in all the lemurs, the second 

 toe of the foot is somewhat shorter than the other toes, and 

 is furnished with a sharp claw. All the other toes, including 

 the opposable big toe, are armed with flat nails. This peculiarity 

 is very characteristic ot all the known lemuroids, and sharply 

 distinguishes them trom the true apes, with the exception of 

 the marmoset family.^ 



The Potto lives of course mainly on insects. It sleeps 

 throughout the day, and is active at night-time, uttering some 

 of those loud and unearthly cries characteristic of the Liberian 

 forest during the dark hours. These cries are easily associated 

 in the native's mind with malevolent spirits. The Americo- 

 Liberians call this animal the "Softly," from its stealthy 

 movements. The indigenous Negroes regard it with awe, and 

 weave curious stories and superstitions round it, declaring that 

 its hands and feet possess extraordinary grasping power, and that 

 these little animals are able to catch and hold large monkeys. 



The Galagos are a very interesting group of African 

 lemurs, with representatives also in the island of Madagascar. 

 Whilst the two pottos of West Africa- are closely related 

 to the lorises of South-eastern Asia, the galagos have no known 



1 In which practically all the fingers and toes are armed with claws instead of 

 nails. 



- It might be mentionetl tliat the range of the common Potto extends right across 

 Africa from Sierra Leone to Uganda. 



685 



