io8 ALLEN'S NATURALIST'S LIBRARY. 



albinos are known ; so that the various differences observed 

 prove them to be only individual variations of the same 

 species. 



Distribution. The Endrina is confined to the woods looking 

 eastward, on the two high ranges along the eastern coast, 

 between the Bay of Antongil on the north and the River 

 Masora on the south. 



Habits. The "Endrina," "Babakbto," or "Amboanala" 

 (Dog of the Forest), as the natives variously name this species, 

 has tiie same habits as the Sifakas. It is the largest of the 

 Lemurs, and is diurnal. It derives its appellation of " Dog of 

 the Forest " from the doleful, dog-like howls which it utters. 

 In this habit it differs, therefore, from most of the other 

 groups (except the True Lemurs), which are, as a rule, rather 

 silent. Its powerful voice is due to the distensible resonator 

 which it possesses in its laryngeal pouch, described above. 

 Essentially diurnal, the Endrinas live in small companies, and 

 feed only on vegetable diet. The hook-like fingers of their 

 hands are better adapted for climbing than for prehension, and 

 much of their food is, indeed, seized by the mouth. They are 

 entirely arboreal, and move about the trees in an erect position, 

 rarely coming to the ground. The " Babakbto" is held in great 

 veneration by most of the native tribes. 



M. Pollen gives several other particulars of these Lemurs, 

 and of the curious notions of the Malagasy respecting them. 

 Their native name is " Babakbto," literally " Father-child " (or 

 " boy "), not " Indri," as stated by Sonnerat, who discovered 

 the species. Indri, or Indry, is a Malagasy word meaning " lo ! " 

 or " behold ! " and was probably mistaken by him and other 

 Europeans for the vernacular name of the animal when the 



