204 



APES, MONKEYS, AND LEMURS 



The indri is the first of a group of three genera, restricted to Madagascar, which 

 present certain characteristics in common not found in other lemurs: Among these 

 characteristics the most obvious is the large proportionate size of the legs as com- 

 pared with the arms. Another is, that with' the exception of the great toe (which 

 is capable of being fully opposed to the others), the toes of the foot are joined to- 

 gether by a web as far as the end of their first joints. For those who desire to enter 

 more fully into the structure of these lemurs, 'it may be mentioned that the total 

 number of the teeth in the adult condition is limited to thirty ; the series being 

 represented by the formula i\, c\, p\, m\. All the members of this group differ 



THE INDRI LEMUR. 

 (One-eighth natural size.) 



from the other lemur-like animals in that they do not give birth to more than a 

 single young one at a time. From this circumstance, together with certain features 

 in their structure, these indris are regarded as the most highly organized of all the 

 lemurs, and are accordingly placed at the head of the list. They subsist exclusively 

 on a vegetable diet. 



The indri is sufficiently distinguished from the other two genera included in 

 the group by its mere stump of a tail ; although there are also certain other features 

 which support its right to stand as the representative of a distinct genus. 



