176 FAMILY LEMTTRHXE. LEMURS. 



nearly absent; it is never prehensile. The form of the skull 

 would of itself indicate the inferior grade of these animals. The 

 size of the cranial cavity is greatly diminished, in proportion to 

 that of the face ; no trace of a forehead remains ; and the head 

 is placed (as it were) at the end of the neck, as in the lower 

 Mammals, instead of being seated upon it, as in Man and the 

 Quadrumana. The orbits are not completely walled in, but 

 open behind into the temporal fossae, the sunk space on either 

 side of the skull, which lodges the temporal muscle (ANIM. 

 PHYSIOL. 621, 624) : this is a character of marked degradation. 

 The tubercles of the molar teeth are no longer rounded ; but are 

 raised into points, which lock into each other, as in the Insec- 

 tivora. Their canines are sharp ; and their tongue is rough, as 

 in the Cat tribe. It is evident that they are much more adapted 

 for an animal diet, than are the typical Quadrumana ; and they 

 show great address in seizing this, as well as courage in defending 

 themselves when attacked. In consequence of the length of 

 their hind legs, which (contrary to the general rule among the 

 Monkeys) greatly exceeds that of the anterior extremities, they 

 are for the most part agile leapers ; but the greater number of 

 them are active only during the night, spending the whole day in 

 sleep, and always secluding themselves as completely as possible 

 from light, which seems painful to them. 



162. Nearly all these characters are most completely mani- 

 fested in the true Lemurs, which are the types of the family. 

 These animals are exclusively confined to the island of Madagas- 

 car, where they replace the Simiadse ; none of these being found 

 there. They are gentle and harmless animals : but will defend 

 themselves with great resolution when attacked, and inflict severe 

 wounds with their sharp canines. In their natural haunts they 

 associate in troops ; and send forth a hoarse dissonant roar, 

 which fills the woods after sunset. They have little of the pry- 

 ing, mischievous, petulant disposition of Monkeys ; but seem also 

 destitute of their intelligence. Their fur is usually very fine 

 and silky ; and the tail long and bushy. Nearly allied to the 

 Lemurs, but differing from them in not possessing a tail, and in 

 having the tubercles of the molar teeth more pointed, are the 



