THE TRUE LEMURS. 77 



On the fore-arm above the wrist-joint there is, in both sexes, a 

 comb-Hke bony outgrowth (becoming in old males a prominent 

 spur) continuous with the palm of the hand by means of a nar- 

 row strip of black, hairless skin ; near it there is a cluster of 

 long stiff hairs over an underlying sweat-gland, the function of 

 which is still unknown. 



Distril)utioii. — This species inhabits chiefly the rocky and 

 treeless regions of the south and south-western borders of the 

 Betsileo province of Madagascar. It is, however, not entirely 

 confined to these treeless districts, for it has been recorded as 

 occurring in bands of some numbers in the neighbouring forest 

 regions. 



Habits. — The Ring-tailed Lemur — one of the handsomest 

 species of the genus and the only one in which the tail is not 

 uniformly coloured— is of gentle manners, active, and graceful. 

 According to the notes of the Rev. G. A. Shaw, as recorded in a 

 paper in the Zoological Society's "Proceedings," it lives among 

 the rocks where a few stunted trees occur, and over this rocky 

 ground it can easily travel, in places where it is impossible for 

 the natives, although bare-footed, to follow it. The palms of 

 its hands and feet are smooth and leather-like, enabling the 

 animal to apply them firmly to the wet rocks. This Lemur 

 feeds on bananas and wild figs. In the winter its chief suste- 

 nance consists of the prickly-pear, peeling off the spiny skin 

 with its long upper canines. According to the same observer, 

 this Lemur rarely drinks water ; indeed, it is said that the 

 species living in the west of Madagascar, including two kinds 

 of White Lemur, subsist without water, while those on the east 

 coast invariably drink water with their meals. When fighting, 

 the Ring-tailed Lemur scratches vigorously and strikes out 

 with its hands. 



