256 THE STORY OF THE LEMUR. 



found to the northward of the tropic of Cancer, while the tropic of Capricorn 

 very nearly limits their southward range. Within this area a few species are 

 found respectively throughout the warmer regions of Africa, and in 

 Southern India and Ceylon, while their eastern limits are marked by the 

 island of Celebes and the Philippines. In all these regions the number of 

 species is comparatively few, and they form but an unimportant element in 

 the general animal family of the country. The case is, however, very dif- 

 ferent in the great island of Madagascar, which is the headquarters of the 

 whole group. Here we find them constituting no less than one-half the 

 animals of the island, most of the others being small forms, unknown either 

 on the continent of Africa or in Asia. The true lemurs occur only in Mada- 

 gascar, and it is very remarkable that all the species of the group found in 

 that island scarcely show any closer relationship to those of the African 

 mainland than they exhibit to those of Asia. So abundant, indeed, are 

 lemurs in Madagascar that at least one individual is almost sure to be found 

 in every little copse throughout the island. 



It will be evident that such a numerous population of helpless animals 

 like lemurs could not exist in a land overrun with large flesh-eating animals; 

 and in the w^hole of Madagascar we find only a few civets and an allied 

 creature known as the fossa. Now to account for these peculiar features — 

 the absence of all large flesh-eaters, except civets, and the abundance of 

 lemurs — we have to call in the aid of the geologist. He will tell us that 

 lemur-like animals, accompanied by civet-Hke animals, existed in England, 

 France, and other parts of Europe during the early part of the Tertiary 

 period. And we are accordingly led to conclude that the lemurs and civets 

 of Madagascar obtained an entrance into that island, doubtless by way 

 of Africa, at a time when that continent was still free from the presence of 

 the large flesh-eating animals and the host of hoofed creatures, which now 

 form such a dominant feature in its animal population. After the lemurs 

 and civets had obtained an entrance into Madagascar that country became 

 separated from the adjacent mainland, and it has remained as an island ever 

 since. There, secure from molestation, the lemurs have attained a develop- 

 ment unequalled at any time in any part of the globe, and afford us an 

 admirable instance of the importance a group of animals may attain when 

 living under favorable conditions. 



We have already said that many lemurs are essentially nocturnal crea- 

 tures. To this we may add that they are all of essentially tree frequenting in 

 their habits. Indeed, except when compelled to descend to the ground to 



