40 THE RUFFED LEMUR AND THE SLENDER LORIS. 



be referred to their proper position among, or rather at the end of, the 

 monkey tribe. 



The word " Lemur " signifies " a night- wandering ghost," and has 

 been applied to this group of animals on account of their nocturnal 

 habits, and their stealthy, noiseless step, which renders their progress 

 almost as inaudible as that of the unearthly beings from whom they 

 derive their name. 



The Ruffed Lemur is one of the handsomest of this family, chal- 

 lenging a rivalship even with the Ring-tailed Lemur in point of ap- 

 pearance. 



The texture of the fur is extremely fine, and its color presents bold 

 contrasts betw^een pure white and jetty blackness. The face of the 

 Ruffed Lemur is black, and a fringe of long white hairs stands out 

 like a ruff round it. 



As is the case with all the Lenuirs, it is a native of Madagascar and 

 of the adjacent islands, and seems to take the place of the ordinary 

 monkeys. Of all the Lemurs this species is the largest, its size equal- 

 ling that of a moderately-grown cat. Its voice is a sepulchral, deep 

 roar, peculiarly loud considering the size of the animal, and can be 

 heard at a great distance in the stilly night. 



The Slender Loris is a small animal, measuring only nine inches 

 in length, i^nd possessed of limbs so delicately slender as to have earned 

 for it its popular name. Its color is gray, with a slight rusty tinge, the 

 under portions of the body fading into white. Round the eyes the fur 

 takes a darker hue, which is well contrasted by a white streak running 

 along the nose. 



Small though it be, and apparently without the power to harm, it is 

 a terrible enemy to the birds and insects on which it feeds, and which 

 it captures, " like Fabius, by delay." 



Night, when the birds are resting with their heads snugly sheltered 

 by their soft feathers, is the time when the Loris awakes from its daily 

 slumbers and stealthily sets forth on its search. Its movements are so 

 slow and silent that not a sound falls on the ear to indicate the presence 

 of a living animal. 



Alas for the doomed bird that has attracted the fiery eyes of the 

 Loris! With movements as imperceptible and as silent as the shadow 

 on the dial, paw after paw is lifted from its hold, advanced a step, and 

 placed again on the bough, until the destroyer stands by the side of the 

 unconscious victim. Then the hand is raised with equal silence, until 

 the fingers overhang the bird and nearly touch it. Suddenly the slow 

 caution is exchanged for lightning speed, and with a movement so rapid 

 that the eye can hardly follow it the bird is torn from its perch, and 

 almost before its eyes are opened from slumber they are closed for ever 

 in death. 



