ZOOLOGY OF THE BRISTOL MTJSETIM. 89 



lines in length. The hinder limbs are considerably longer than 

 the fore. The whole of the body, with the exception of the 

 muzzle is thickly set with long close woolly hair of a gray -brown 

 color. A dark band passes along the back, and divides on the 

 head to enclose the eyes and ears, leaving white patches on the 

 forehead, and none over the eyes. On the under surface the fur 

 is lighter colored than above. The dentation of the Loris differs 

 from that of the true Lemurs in there being six instead of four 

 lower incisors, which are placed horizontally. Of the four upper 

 incisors, the middle ones are large and the lateral ones excessively 

 small. The canines are somewhat turned outwards. There is 

 one molar less on each side of the lower jaw than in the upper 

 where there are six. The total number, as in the true Lemurs, 

 is thirty- six. 



Sir Anthony Carlisle having noticed in this animal a peculiar 

 distribution of the blood-vessels of the arm-pit and groin, — 

 twenty-two equal-sized trunks passing off from the main vessel 

 to be distributed to the muscles — considered that this peculiarity 

 might be connected with the slow stealthy movements of the 

 creature. 



Mr. Wood, in his entertaining Natural History, has described 

 very picturesquely the habits of the slender Loris. He says that 

 these nocturnal animals steal upon their prey, which is commonly 

 small birds, by very gradual noiseless movements, and seize it at 

 last by a sudden snatch as rapid as the previous advance was 

 slow. Its great powers of vision at night would seem especially 

 suited to their habits. 



In captivity the Loris appears to be tolerably omnivorous, and 

 has a habit of clutching its food first with both hands, and then 

 transferring it to the left before eating it. It is, as might be 

 expected, a very silent animal, never making a sound except 

 when irritated, and then only a low plaintive cry. 



