ANIMALS OF THE 



animal ; and though it resembles the monkey in 

 many respects, yet it has neither its malice nor 

 its mischief: nevertheless, like the monkey, it 

 seems to be always in motion, and moves, like all 

 four-handed animals, in an oblique direction. 



A second of this kind, which is also a native 

 of Madagascar, is the Mongooz, which is less 

 than the- former, with a soft, glossy robe, but a 

 little curled. The nose also is thicker than that 

 of the mococo ; the eyes are black, with orange- 

 coloured circles round the pupil ; and the tail is 

 of one uniform colour. As to the rest, it is found 

 of various colours ; some being black, others 

 brown ; and its actions somewhat resemble those 

 of a monkey. 



The Vari is much larger than either of the 

 former ; its hair is much longer, and it has a 

 kind of ruff round the neck, consisting of very 

 long hair, by which it may be easily distinguish- 

 ed from the rest. It differs also in its disposi- 

 tion, which is fierce and savage ; as also in the 

 loudness of its voice, which somewhat resembles 

 the roaring of the lion. This also is a native of 

 Madagascar. 



To this tribe we may refer a little four-handed 

 animal, of the island of Ceylon, which M. Buffon 

 calls the Lori, very remarkable for the singulari- 

 ty of its figure. This is, of all other animals, the 

 longest in proportion to its size, having nine ver- 

 tebrae in the loins, whereas other quadrupeds have 

 only seven : * the body appears still the longer, 



*- Buffon, vol. xxvi. p. 274. 



