; 



THE MAKIES. 153 



the mongoy, and is not quite so large as the macoco : 

 the hair is extremely soft and glossy, and a little curl- 

 ed towards the ends : the eyes are black, with orange- 

 coloured circles round the pupils ; and the tail is' of 

 one shade instead of being ringed. 



The vari is much larger than either of the former 

 animals ; the hair longer, and particularly round the 

 neck, where it grows in the form of a ruff. It differs 

 in disposition from the rest of its species, from be- 

 ing savage, fierce,' and ill-humoured, whilst all the 

 others are completely inoffensive and tame : the voice 

 is extremely deep and loud, and thought to resemble a 

 lion's roar. 



To this tribe may be likewise added a little animal 

 called the lori, peculiar to the island of Ceylon, which, 

 of all quadrupeds, is the longest in proportion to its 

 size ; it is very little longer than a squirrel ; but has 

 not even the appearance of a tail : the nose is long, 

 like the makies 5 and it resembles them in the form 

 both of its hands and feet. 



THE OPPOSSUM AND ITS KIND. 



The oppossum is a native both of North and £o T1t h 

 America, and is about the size of a small cat : its head 

 resembles that of a fox ; but its form and tail are like 

 those of a rat : the fore legs are not above three inches 

 in length, whilst the hind ones measure upwards of 

 four: the feet of this animal are shaped like hands ; 

 but the thumb of the hinder ones is entirely without 

 nails : the eyes are small, clear, and lively ; and the 

 ears formed like those of a rat : but that which dis- 

 tinguishes this animal from all others, and at the same 

 time excites the astonishment of mankind, is the pe- 

 culiar construction of the belly, in which it cherishes 



