ORDER PRIMATES: PRIMATES 139 



definitely whether this is due to mutation or, what is more probable, to 

 secondary invasion of the northern area by L. /. rujus down the right bank 

 of the Betsiboka River. Red-fronted skins have been recorded from north 

 of the River Betsiboka from Betsako . . . , Narendry Bay . . . , Anoront- 

 sanga . . . ; also . . . from Ambatondrazaka, south of Lake Alaotra. Black- 

 headed skins have been recorded from the same general region, but not south 

 of the River Betsiboka. In various cases black- and red-fronted skins are 

 known from the same localities. 



Additional localities from which Schwarz records specimens are: 

 Ankona Forest, E. Betsileo; Fianarantsoa ; Tulear, SW. coast; and 

 Morondava, W. coast. 



Lorenz-Liburnau (1898, p. 448) records 16 specimens from Kan- 

 dam and 3 from nearby Antema in the Bay of Bombetoka region. 



In the forests in the vicinity of Betsina, west of the Mahavavy 

 River, northwestern Madagascar, this lemur is not rare, and four 

 specimens were secured (Kaudern, 1915, p. 45) . 



G. M. Allen (1918, p. 515) records "a fine series of six males and 

 ten females, all from localities on the upper Siribihina River [inland 

 from Morondava] and some thirty miles south of Berevo." 



"This lemur was common about Tabiky [inland from Cape St. 

 Vincent] in the low dense brush, the wooded plains, and the gallery 

 forest." On one occasion a party of six was seen. (Rand, 1935, 

 p. 98.) 



Mayotte Lemur 



LEMUR MACACO MAYOTTENSIS Schlegel 



Lemur mayottensis Schlegel, Nederl. Tijdschr. Dierk., vol. 3, p. 76, 1866. 



("L'ile de Mayotte," Comoro Isles.) 

 FIG.: Schlegel and Pollen, 1868, pi. 2. 



In former years the Mayotte Lemur was apparently common, but 

 with the increase of population and cultivation on the island its 

 numbers have probably declined. 



Coloration of the head similar to that of L. /. collaris but much 

 more pronounced; in old males the snout is deep black, this colora- 

 tion extending between the eyes to the forehead and continuing as 

 a median stripe to the crown; this color pattern of the head less 

 pronounced in younger males and in females; upper parts grayish 

 brown, speckled with rufous and yellowish gray; rump with a 

 blackish spot; lower parts pale rufous (Schlegel, 1866, pp. 76-77). 

 Total length, 39 inches; tail, 21 inches (Schlegel, 1876, p. 308). 



These animals live in bands of 6 to 20 individuals in the virgin 

 forests of Mayotte, where they are hunted with dogs. The flesh is 

 excellent and tastes like that of young rabbits. A favored food of 

 the lemurs is wild dates. A series of 10 specimens is recorded. 

 (Schlegel and Pollen, 1868, pp. 5-6.) 



