THE POTTOS, OR AFRICAN SLOW LEMURS 



235 



In addition to the loss of the index finger of the hand, the potto presents a 

 curious peculiarity connected with the joints of the backbone in the neck. The 

 spines, which project from the upper surfaces of their joints, are so elongated that 

 they actually project beyond the general level of the skin of the back of the neck, 

 where they form a series of little humps. We are at present unacquainted with the 

 object of this peculiar structural arrangement. 



L,ike the loris, the potto is nocturnal in its habits, sleeping during the whole of 

 the day, as shown in our first illustration, rolled up in a ball, with the head between 

 the fore-legs, and folded into the chest, and supporting itself in captivity by grasp- 

 ing the bars of its cage with both hands and feet. 



The potto is found over a considerable extent of the west coast of Africa, 

 having been recorded from Guinea, Sierra I/eone, and the Gabun. Unfortunately, 



BOSMAN'S POTTO. 



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



however, we have but few details as to its habits in a wild state, this being prob- 

 ably largely due to the creature having been seldom seen by Europeans. Several 

 specimens of the potto have been exhibited in the Gardens of the Condon Zoological 

 Society ; the animal is, however, extremely susceptible to cold, and requires the 

 greatest care. 



THK AWANTIBO (Perodicticus calabarensis} 



Far more rare than the potto is the lemur represented in the illustration on 

 the next page, which is known only from the regions around the Old Calabar river, 

 flowing into the Bight of Biafra, east of the Niger. The awantibo is distinguished 



