558 QUADRUMANA. 



each other, and the body rests on the outer edge of 

 the foot ; their legs, too, are very short, bent, and 

 directed inwards, so that they may be termed bow- 

 legged. Their arms, moreover, are of inordinate 

 length, and the fingers very long in proportion to the 

 thumbs, so that their prehensile paws, when com- 

 pared with th!3 human hand, are extremely clumsy 

 and inefficient. It is sufficient, indeed, to contrast 

 the skeleton of man with that of one of the most 

 man-like apes, to perceive the dissimilarity of their 

 structure. 



In their geographical distribution, the Quadrumana 

 must be regarded as a tropical group. They are 

 found in the forests and rocky deserts of Southern 

 Asia, South Africa, and of South America, Avhere 

 they live in troops, and feed principally on fruits, 

 often descending to plunder the gardens and fields. 

 In Africa their range extends as far south as the 

 Cape of Good Hope ; a species of baboon-like mon- 

 key lives on the rock of Gibraltar, this is their 

 most northern locality. 



Intermediate in structure betv/een the Bats and 

 the lowest forms of Monkeys is a very remarkable 

 tribe of animals, generally known by the name of 



The Flying Cats (GaleopUhecus*). These diifer from the Bats 

 in many important particulars ; the fingers of their hands are not 

 more elongated than those of their feet, so tliat the fold of skin 

 which occupies the interval between the fore and hind legs can do 

 little else than act as a parachute, enabling these creatures to take 

 long sweeping leaps from tree to tree. These animals are found in 

 tlie Indian Archipelago. They inhabit lofty trees in dark woods, 

 to which they cling with all four limbs, and climb easily by means 

 of their claws. During the day time they suspend themselves like 

 Bats from the branches, with the head downwards, but at night 

 they rouse themselves, and make an active search for food, which 

 consists of fruits, insects, eggs, birds, &c. They are very inoffensive, 

 and generally produce two young ones at a birth. 



The Fox-headei Monkeys (Lemur . The animals belonging to this 

 family have thumbs, both upon the fore and hind limbs, which are 

 well developed, and opposable to the other fingers ; but they differ 

 from the monkeys in the disposition and character of their teeth, 

 which arc more or less studded with sharp points, indicative of their 

 appetite for insects. I'heir muzzle is lengthened, and ix)inted, their 



ya\4r], galee, a weasel ; nidTjKos, pitliecos, an ape. 



