202 



APES, MONKEYS, AND LEMURS 



Habits 



We have already said that many lemurs are essentially nocturnal 

 creatures. To this we may add that they are all of essentially arboreal 

 habits. Indeed, except when compelled to descend to the ground to obtain water, 

 or for the purpose of crossing from one plantation or coppice to another, they but 

 rarely leave the trees* Their diet is extremely mixed, scarcely anything coming 

 amiss to them, as will be inferred when we mention that leaves, fruits, insects, 



FEMALE BLACK LEMUR WITH YOUNG. 

 (From Sclater, Proc. Zool. Soc., 1885.) 



reptiles, birds' eggs, and birds themselves are eagerly consumed by most of these 

 animals. 



By the natives of Madagascar the lemurs are looked upon with suspicious awe, 

 and are consequently but seldom molested. This is doubtless due to their nocturnal 

 habits and ghost-like movements ; while the large eyes essential to these and all 

 other nocturnal creatures have perhaps contributed to this feeling. In Ceylon and 

 India, as we shall subsequently see, the large glaring eyes of one of the prettiest of 



