THE POTTOS. 



29 



tinguished from it by its rounder, shorter, and wider head, 

 less produced muzzle, smaller mouth, and eyes farther apart ; 

 ears shorter, rounder, and directed more backwards, with one 

 lamella on the inner surface. Hands longer, flat and thin; 

 index-finger not so reduced as in P. calabarensis. Tail very 

 short, little more than an inch long, but visible beyond the 

 fur. Length of body, 8 inches. 



Upper pre-molars less canine-like than in the preceding 

 species; posterior upper molar differing in size from and set 

 farther out than the others, short and wide, with the crown 

 elliptical and only two-cusped, the two hind-cusps wanting. 

 Lower incisors more prominent and projecting than in P. cala- 

 barensis ; crown of posterior lower molar four-cusped. 



Adult. — Upper surface rich reddish-brown with a black dorsal 

 stripe widening opposite the shoulders, and fading out towards 

 the tail ; under side yellowish or reddish-white. Hair on face 

 shorter and paler, with a dark ring round the eyes. 



Young. — Reddish-brown all over, redder on the back of the 

 head and neck, darker on the shoulders; creamy-white, washed 

 with rufous, beneath. 



Fur silver-grey at the base of the hairs, with reddish-brown 

 tips in younger, and dark golden-brown in older, individuals. 



Distribution — The Potto is one of the oldest known mem- 

 bers of the Lemuroid group, having been described in 1704 

 by Bosman, who met with it on his voyage to Guinea. It was, 

 however, lost sight of until 1825, when it was rediscovered in 

 Sierra Leone and fully described by Bennett in 1830. It is 

 known also from Gaboon. 



Habits.— Both species of Potto are nocturnal and arboreal, 

 and are exceedingly slow in their movements. In catching 



