20 6 APES, MONKEYS, AND LEMURS 



THE PROPITHEQUES, OR SIFAKAS 

 Genus Propithecus 



The sifakas, as they are called by the native inhabitants of Madagascar, con- 

 stitute the only genus of this group of lemurs which is represented by more than 

 a single species. Although closely allied to the indri, they are at once distinguished 

 by their long tails ; the muzzle is also rather shorter, and the ears are considerably- 

 smaller, and are partly concealed by the fur, as is shown in our figure of the head 

 of one of the species. Their skin is of a deep black ; but the general color of the 

 fur is usually white, more or less tinged with yellow, and, in some individuals, pass- 

 ing into red or even black. The fur on the breast is always much thinner than 

 that of other parts of the body. 



Three species of the genus are recognized, which are restricted to different 

 parts of the island ; but of these species there are several more or less distinct 

 races, which are likewise confined to particular localities. It has been observed 

 that while those individuals of the several species which tend to assume a black 

 coloration are found in the damper parts of the island, those which are most com- 

 pletely white frequent the drier regions at the northern extremity, of Madagascar. 

 The sifakas, as Grandidier observes, live in bands of from six to eight indi- 

 viduals. They are completely diurnal in their habits, and may be observed at 



morning and evening, when the heat is not 

 too great, leaping in the forests from tree 

 to tree in search of food. At sunrise they 

 may often be seen sitting on the horizontal 

 bough of a tree, close to where it branches 

 off from the main stem, with their long legs 

 bent, so as to touch their chin, and their 

 hands resting on their knees. At other 

 times they will be seen sitting in the same 

 position, but with their arms extended, so as 

 to receive the genial warmth from the 

 rising sun on their bodies. During the heat 

 of the day they conceal themselves in the 

 HEAD OF VERREAUX'S siFAKA. depths of the foliage. When sleeping, they 



(After Grandidier.) . . , , , ,. , , 



incline the head forward on the chest, and 



cover it with their arms ; at the same time the tail is either curled up spirally 

 between the legs, or allowed to hang straight down. 



Their shelving lower front teeth are admirably adapted for removing part of 

 the rind of the fruits on which they so largely subsist, and thus making an aperture 

 through which the pulp is removed piecemeal. The skins of the fruits are always 

 rejected ; and it is stated that sifakas exhibit a marked preference for green rather 

 than ripe fruit. 



In all ways they are admirably adapted for a purely arboreal life. So strong 

 indeed are their hind limbs that they can readily take leaps of from ten to eleven 



