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There is a considerable amount of variation in the color of different local races 

 of this species, although in all cases there is a dark stripe running down the middle 

 of the back, sometimes extending to the head. In the more common and larger 

 variety, the color of the fur is ashy gray above, tending to become silvery along the 

 sides of the back, the under parts being lighter, and the rump often having a tinge 

 of red. The stripe on the back is chestnut colored, and stops short at the hinder 

 part of the crown of the head. The eyes are, however, surrounded by dark rims ; 

 between which is the white streak extending upwards from the nose. The ears, 

 together with a small surrounding area, are brown. 



In another, and generally smaller variety, the hue of the upper parts has a 

 distinct tinge of red mingling with the gray ; while the stripe on the back is wider, 

 and often of a full brown color ; but instead of stopping short at the back of the 

 crown of the head, this band widens out into a large brown patch on the crown, 

 which embraces the ears. The eyes, however, although surrounded by brown 

 rings, are not connected with the patch on the head by a dark colored area. There 

 is yet a third variety of this creature, found in Tenasserim, in which the general 

 color is pale rufescent, while the dark stripe on the back, instead of expanding on 

 the crown of the head, merely splits into a fork, of which each prong joins the dark 

 ring round the eyes. 



The slow loris is found over a large area in the countries lying to the east- 

 ward of the Bay of Bengal. It occurs on the northeast frontier of India in the 

 provinces of Sylhet and Assam, whence it extends southward into Burma, 

 Tenasserim, and the Malay Peninsula ; while it is also found in Siam and Cochin- 

 China, and the islands of Sumatra, Java, and Borneo. 



H . . Its food consists of leaves and young shoots of trees, as well as 



fruits, various kinds of insects, birds and their eggs. It has been ob- 

 served to stand nearly erect upon its feet, and from this advantageous position 

 pounce upon an insect. It is generally silent, although sometimes uttering a low 

 crackling sound ; but when enraged, and especially if about to bite, it gives a kind of 

 fierce growl. Mr. Blanford, quoting from notes by Colonel Tickell, observes that 

 this animal is tolerably common in the Tenasserim provinces and Arakan ; but being 

 strictly nocturnal in its habits, is seldom seen. It inhabits the densest forests, and 

 never by choice leaves the trees. Its movements are slow, but it climbs readily, 

 and grasps with great tenacity. If placed on the ground, it can proceed, if 

 frightened, in a wavering kind of trot, the limbs placed at right angles. It sleeps 

 rolled up in a ball, its head and hands buried beneath its thighs, and wakes up at 

 the dusk of evening to commence its nocturnal rambles. The female bears but one 

 young at a time. Many accounts have been published of the habits of the slow 

 loris in confinement. One of the best of the earlier of these is from the pen of Sir 

 William Jones, who had one of these animals as a pet in Calcutta. All observers 

 are agreed that, while these creatures are apt to be fierce when first captured, 

 they soon become docile. They are very susceptible to cold, and when so affected 

 are apt to be fractious and petulant. 



There is an account of a tame loris in L,oudon's Magazine of Natural History. 

 After mentioning that the animal was especially fond of plantains, the writer 



