NATURALISTS CABINET. 



Description, &c. 



however, in the length of their hind legs, and in 

 the shape of the head, which is somewhat like 

 that of a fox* 



The slow-paced lemur is about the size of a 

 small cat. Its body is of a pale brown, or mouse 

 colour. The face is flattish, and the nose some- 

 what sharpened. The eyes, which are very pro- 

 minent, are surrounded with a circle of dark 

 brown, and a stripe of the same colour runs down 

 the middle of the back. 



It is remarkably slow in its motions which has 

 given rise to its appellation, and has even induced 

 some naturalists to rank it among the sloths, 

 though in no other respect resembling that ge- 

 nus. It is a nocturnal animal, and lies motionless 

 during the greatest part of the day. It inhabits 

 the island of Ceylon, and various parts of the 

 East Indies. 



N 



An interesting description of this little creature 

 has been given by the late Sir William Jones, in 

 the fourth volume of the Asiatic Researches ; the 

 substance of which I shall lay before the reader. 



(e In his manners he was for the most part 

 gentle, except in the cold season, when his tem- 

 per seemed entirely changed ; and his Creator, 

 who made him so sensible of cold, to which he 

 must frequently have been exposed even in his 

 native forests, gave him, probably for that reason, 

 a thick fur, which is rarely seen on animals in 

 the tropical climates. 



f< To me, who not only constantly fed him, 



