632 MANUAL OF ZOOLOGY. 



In the Nycticebidcz are the Loris and the Slow Lemurs, in 

 which there is no tail, or but a rudimentary one ; the ears are 

 short and rounded, and the eyes are large, and are placed close 

 together. The species of this family are all of small size, and 

 are exclusively confined to the eastern portion of the Old 

 World, occurring in Java, Ceylon, the southern parts of Asia, 

 and other localities in the same geographical area. They are 

 nocturnal in their habits, living mostly on trees, and feeding 

 upon insects; and from the slowness with which some of them 

 progress, they are sometimes spoken of as " Slow Lemurs." 

 The best-known species are the Slender Loris (L. gracilis) of 

 Ceylon, and the Nycticebus tardigradus of the East Indies. 



The largest and most important of the families of the Strep- 

 sirhina is that of the Lemuridce or true Lemurs. In this family 

 the muzzle is elongated, the feet are all furnished with oppos- 

 able thumbs, and the nails on all the toes are flat, with the 

 exception of the second toe of the hind-foot, in which there is 

 a long and pointed claw. The body is covered with a soft 

 fur, and the tail is usually of considerable length, and is 

 covered with hair. They are easily domesticated ; and though 

 capable of biting pretty severely, their disposition is gentle and 

 docile. They are mostly about the size of cats, and not unlike 

 them in appearance, being often termed " Madagascar cats " 

 by sailors. They are found almost exclusively in the great 

 forests of Madagascar, moving about amongst the trees with 

 great activity, by means of their prehensile tails. They appear 

 to fill in Madagascar the place occupied by the higher Quad- 

 rumana upon the adjoining continent of Africa. The largest 

 species is the Indri, which has very long hind-legs, and stands 

 as much as three feet in height. 



PLATYRHINA. 



The section of the Platyrhine Monkeys is exclusively con- 

 fined to South America, and one of its leading characters is to 

 be found in the almost universal possession of a prehensile 

 tail; this being an adaptive character by which they are 

 suited to the arboreal life which so many of the South Ameri- 

 can Mammals are forced to lead.- There are neither cheek- 

 pouches nor natal callosities, and there is an additional prse- 

 molar, and sometimes a molar less than in man and the Old World 

 Monkeys. The nostrils are simple, wide apart, and placed 



nearly at the extremity of the snout. The praemolars are - - 



3 3 

 in number, and have blunt tubercles. The thumbs of the fore- 



