FAMILY LEMURID.fi. 



175 



or Lemur tribe, presents a combination of characters, 

 which, although no single one may be very striking in itself, 

 evidently points out the animals it contains, as forming the link 

 between the typical Quadrumana, and the lower classes of Mam- 

 mals. They agree with the Simiadse in having opposable thumbs 

 on both pairs of extremities, but differ from them in dentition. 

 The number and form of the teeth vary in the different genera. 

 Not unfrequently the incisors appear to be 6 below, instead of 

 4 ; but this is owing to the peculiar form and position of the 

 lower canines and first molars, the former seeming like addi- 

 tional incisors, and the latter taking their place as canines. In 

 the true Lemurs, the formula is as follows : incisors -J, canines 

 |^|, molars ^. The contour of the body is very peculiar. The 

 general form is slender and elongated ; the head pointed, anri 

 somewhat fox-like ; the nostrils terminating at the end of a 



ill/Mr 



FIG. 79. HAND AXD Poor Of LEMUR. 



, naked, and somewhat prominent muzzle ; the eyes large, 

 as in nocturnal animals ; and a long curved claw on the first 

 (sometimes the first two) fingers of the hind feet. This last 

 character serves to distinguish them from all other Quadrumana . 

 T'nc tail varies in length ; being sometimes large, and sometimes 



