INDRL 205 



From the loins to the tail there is a large triangular patch of either pure white or of 

 a yellowish tinge ; this patch terminates in front in a sharp point, and is bordered 

 on all sides with black. The flanks are also light-coloured ; and the dark bands 

 which usually separate the light area of the loins from that of the flanks are continued 

 down the front of the legs ; but the sides of the legs are in general whitish, and their 

 hinder surface grey ; the heel being reddish. The hands and feet are black, and, 

 unlike the specimen we figure, they are, as a rule, almost denuded of hair. 



Such are the common colours in the larger number of specimens of the 

 indri. In almost every flock, however, individuals are found in which the light- 

 coloured areas intrude more or less extensively upon those which are usually 

 black ; and from these intermediate forms a complete transition can be traced to 

 others in which the whole of the fur is white. The intermediately coloured 

 individuals very generally retain the broad black streak down the front of the leg, 

 and the black ears. 



Instead of being distributed over the whole of Madagascar, the indris are 

 confined to the forests on the east coast of the island ; this restricted distribution 

 being due to the great range of mountains running longitudinally through 

 Madagascar, which cuts off these animals from the plains on the western side. 



In contradistinction to most of the lemurs, the indris are purely 

 Habits. 



diurnal in their habits ; they are commonly found in small parties of 



four or five, although during the day single individuals, more or less widely separated 

 from their companions, may frequently be seen. Their general habits appear to 

 be similar to those of the propitheques, to which we shall refer later on. Unless 

 injured so badly as to be unable to make its escape, the indri does not give 

 utterance to the least sound when wounded; if, however, it is so severely hit 

 as to fall to the ground, w T hich it will only do when its extraordinary powers 

 of holding on to the branches of the trees are exhausted, it gives vent to piercing 

 shrieks. 



It is related by Grandidier that some of the inhabitants of Madagascar 

 have an extraordinary superstitious veneration for the indri, and will on no 

 consideration harm it. Different families assign different reasons for this special 

 veneration : and while it may be of the most marked description in one village, in 

 a neighbouring one it may be totally wanting. The author referred to considers 

 that it may be largely due to the plaintive and mournful cries with which these 

 animals frequently make the forests resound, cries which can be heard at great 

 distances, and have a more or less marked resemblance to agonised human wailings. 



THE PROPITHEQUES, OR SIFAKAS. 

 Genus Propithecus. 



The sifakas, as they are called by the native inhabitants of Madagascar, 

 constitute the only genus of this group of lemurs which is represented by more than 

 a single species. Although closely allied to the indri, they are at once distinguished, 

 by their long tails ; the muzzle is also rather shorter, and the ears are considerably 



