lo6 QUAURUMANA. 



suddenly drop from the top of a tree to the underwood and run away 

 before the hunter can reahze the fact. 



THE MONGOOSE AND THE RING-TAILED LEMUR. 



The Mongoose, Lemur ntongoz, is one of tlie commonest varieties ; it 

 measures about three feet, inchiding a foot and a half of tail. The color, 

 dark ash-gray on the back, becomes a grayish-black on the head ; a white 

 streak runs from beneath llic neck up to the ears; the lower part of the 

 back is light-brown. 



The Ring-tailed or Cat Lemur, Limur catta, is not as large as the 

 Ruffed Lemur, measuring only a foot from nose to tail, the tail being eight 

 inches in length. The grace of its form, the beauty of its color, its large 

 eyes, and its long ringed tail, render it one of the most beautiful of the 

 species. It is found only in the Southwest of Madagascar, and lives 

 like its congeners. Its cry, however, is not loud, but resembles the mew- 

 ing of our " harmless, necessary cat." In confinement it becomes familiar, 

 and when it chooses to exhibit its powers, is very amusing with its merry 

 iranks. If several individuals are confined in the same cage, they are 

 fond of luiddling together, and involving themselves in such a strange 

 entanglement of tails, limbs, and heads, that until they separate, it is 

 almost impossible to decide upon the number of the animals that form 

 the variegated mass. 



The quartermaster of a French corvette possessed one which recog- 

 nized its master among all the crew ; it loved to play with the boys and 

 the ship's dog. It nursed a little monkey as if it had been its own child, 

 and amused ilselfbv pulling the tails of the chickens till they screamed. 



Tiie Red Lemur, Lemur ruber, possesses a fur which has somewhat 

 of a woolly aspect, the hair separating into tufts, each of which is slightly 

 curled. It is a beautifully decorated animal, displaying considerable 

 contrast of coloring. The body, head, ami the greater portion of the 

 limbs, are of a fine chestnut, with the exception of a large white patch 

 covering the back of the head and nape of the neck, and a smaller one 

 in the midst of each foot. The face, the tail, and paws, are black, as 

 is all tin- under side of the body. This latter circumstance is most 

 remarkable, as it is almost a general rule tiiat the under parts of animals 

 are lighter in tint than the upper. Around the sides of the face the hair 

 is of a paler chestnut than that which covers the body. 



