QUADRUMANA. 



49 



OUISTITIS. 



A small genus, similar to the Sakis, and for a long time 

 confounded with them in the great genus of monkeys. 

 In fact, like the generality of the American monkeys, 

 they have the head round; visage flat; nostrils lateral ; 

 * no cheek-pouches ; and, like the Sakis in particular, the 

 tail is not prehensile. They have only, however, twenty 

 grinders, like the monkeys of the eastern continent; all 

 their nails are compressed and pointed, those of the hind 

 thumbs excepted, while their anterior ones are so slightly 

 separated from the fingers, that it is with hesitation we 

 assign to them the name of quadrumana. They are pretty 

 little creatures, of agreeable forms, and easily tamed. The 

 engraving represents the head and feet of the Ouistttis, properly so called, which 

 M. GeofFroy names JACCHUS, and whose peculiar characters are pointed inferior 

 incisors, arranged on a curved line, equal to the canines. Their tail is curling 

 and well covered with hairs ; the ears generally ornamented with a tuft. 



Sim.jacchus, Linnaeus; the Common Ouistitis. The tail is tolerably well 

 tufted, coloured in rings of brown and white; body greyish-brown; two large 

 tufts of white hairs before the ears. This species is found in Paraguay, and 

 nearly every part of South America. 



LEMUR, Linneeus. 



The Lemurs, according to Linnaeus, comprehend all the Quadrumana which 

 have in either jaw incisors differing in number from four, or at least differ- 

 ently directed from those of the Monkeys. This negative character could 

 scarcely fail to embrace very different beings, while it was not calculated to 

 even unite those which should be combined. Geoffroy has established several 

 divisions in this genus which are much better characterised. The four thumbs 

 of these animals are well developed and opposable, and the first hind finger is 

 armed with a pointed raised nail ; all the other nails are flat. Their fur is 

 woolly; and their teeth begin to exhibit sharp tubercles catching in each other 

 as in the Insectivora. These peculiarities are represented in the engraving. 



The LEMUR MAKIS, properly so called, have six incisors 

 in the lower jaw, compressed and slanting forwards, four 

 in the upper that are straight, the intermediate ones being 

 separated from each other ; trenchant canini ; six molares 

 on each side above, six below; ears small. They are very 

 active animals, which, from their pointed heads, have been 

 called Fox-nosed Monkeys. Their food is fruit. Their 

 species are very numerous, and are only met with in the 

 island of Madagascar, where they appear to replace the Mon- 

 keys, none of which it is said are to be found there. Nearly 

 all the difference that exists between them is in the colour. 



