66 



THE HALF-MONKEYS OR LEMUROIDS. 



rich in fruits and insects. They do not exactly shun 

 Man, neither do they seek him. Nocturnal in their 

 habits to a greater or less degree, they seek the 

 darkest parts of a forest, crouch or roll themselves 

 together and sleep a great deal. Their attitudes in 

 sleep are very peculiar. Either they sit holding 

 themselves with their hands, the head buried in the 

 arms, and the tail rolled about the head and shoul- 

 ders ; or else two or more will huddle close together. 

 Sometimes two Lemurs will roll themselves together 

 in a ball-like mass, with their tails curled around 

 each other. If one disturbs such a ball of fur, two 



SHORT-TAILED INDRIS LEMUR. The characteristics of this animal as it appears in its 



native Madagascan forest, are admirably depicted in this picture. The contrasts of light and dark in 

 its fur, the stumpy tail from which it derives its name, the methods of grasping and climbing aided by 

 the remarkable thumb, as well as the keen vision, are all brought out. The Squirrel-like attitude of the 

 animal in sitting posture, as shown by the figure in the background, is another strong characteristic 

 of this type of the Lemur family. {Lichanotus brevicaudatus.) 



heads suddenly make their appearance and stare at 

 the intruder with large, displeased eyes. 



The sleep of the Lemurs is very light. The hum- 

 ming of a Fly or the noise of a creeping Beetle is 

 sufficient often to rouse many of them, when they 

 prick up their ears and the large eyes look dreamily 

 around ; but only for a moment. They are ex- 

 tremely sensitive to light, more so than any other 

 animals of the family of mammals. They seem to 

 be as dead creatures in the day-time. In their wild 

 state Lemurs awake only at dusk ; but this is only 

 partially true of those in captivity. 



When in their forest homes they rouse themselves 

 after sunset, clean their fur, exercise their usually 

 rather loud and disagreeable voices, and then set 

 out. The activity they display varies much in dif- 

 ferent species. The majority exert themselves in 

 the first place to justify their spectral name, and 

 raise a disturbance that strikes terror to the heart of 

 a new-comer, who must attribute the indescribable 

 noise to the " powers of darkness," though it slightly 

 reminds one of the roar of dangerous beasts of prey r 

 such as the Lion. 



Some species, on the other hand, are entirely dif- 

 ferent in their actions and temper- 

 ament. Stealthily and noiselessly 

 they creep from branch to branch; 

 their large, round eyes gleam in 

 the darkness like fiery balls, and 

 their movements are so deliberate 

 and noiseless that not the slight- 

 est sound betrays them, even to an 

 interested listener. 



The Stealthy Alas! for the sleep- 

 Habits of ing bird that has 

 Some Lemurs, attracted the no- 

 tice of those fiery eyes. No In- 

 dian on the war-path moves with 

 stealthier tread ; no bloodthirsty 

 savage approaches with deadlier 

 purpose than does the Loris, 

 stealthiest of Lemurs, when creep- 

 ing to his sleeping prey. Without 

 noise, nearly without visible move- 

 ment, paw after paw is lifted till he 

 has reached his victim. Then the 

 hand is raised with equal silence 

 till it nearly touches the bird, when 

 with one movement, too quick for 

 the eye to follow it, he has seized 

 the poor thing, which is strangled 

 before it regains consciousness. 

 Nothing can equal the avidity 

 with which the harmless looking 

 Loris devours his prey after the 

 murder is accomplished. Like the 

 sleeping bird, the young ones, or 

 the eggs, are lost if once the Loris 

 discovers them. 



All species belonging to this 

 group move slowly and assure 

 themselves of a safe hold upon a 

 succeeding branch before relin- 

 quishing the one that supports 

 them. A uniform and rather high 

 temperature is a necessity to them; 

 cold makes them peevish and 

 brings on illness. 



Their intellectual faculties are 

 slight ; but a few species present a 

 noteworthy exception to this rule. 

 They are all shy and timid, though they defend 

 themselves courageously when attacked. When 

 they become accustomed to people they are good- 

 natured and gentle, but rarely lose their timidity. 

 A few species bear the loss of their freedom very 

 resignedly ; they may even be trained to render 

 certain services to Man, such as hunting other ani- 

 mals. The tailless species usually retain their quiet, 

 melancholy temper, dislike of being disturbed, and 

 they scarcely ever learn to discriminate between 

 their keeper and other people, or show any gratitude 

 for any kindness extended to them. 



