298 NATTTRAL HISTORY OF AFRICA. 



sessed of all the most odious and degrading propensities of 

 the most God-forsaken of the human race. No other spe- 

 cies exhibit so strong a concentration of the animal propen- 

 eities. They are the most sensual of the brute creation. 



The strength of some baboons is enormous. By mus- 

 cular energy alone, and without the assistance of their 

 huge tusks, they will tear the strongest dog to pieces in a 

 few minutes. During one of Mr. Burchell's hunting par- 

 ties, two of his dogs were seized by baboons ( Cercopithecics 

 ursinus) ; one of them was killed on the spot by ha\dng hia 

 jugular artery bit through, and the other was severely dis- 

 abled, and a part of his ribs laid bare. Fortunately, with 

 all their fierceness, their propensities are not carnivorous, 

 otherwise the most dreaded of the feline race would prove 

 less formidable foes. In a state of nature they feed princi- 

 pally on roots and fruits, although the eggs and young of 

 birds probably also form a part of their sustenance. 



As in the present summary we are guided rather by zoo- 

 jogical than geographical principles, with a view chiefly to 

 avoid the repeated mention of the same animal, a necessity 

 from which we could scarcely escape were we to trace suc- 

 cessively the natural history of each African district, in- 

 stead of that of the species or genera themselves in system- 

 atic progression, — we shall proceed to the next group in 

 our scientific arrangements, that of the Lemurs. 



This singular tribe of animals inhabits the great island 

 of Madagascar, and the not distant island of Anjouan, one 

 of the group of the Comora archipelago, — countries usually 

 regarded as belonging to the African division of our globe. 

 In common with apes and monkeys, they are quadrumanous 

 animals, — that is, possessed of the power of prehension 

 both with their fore and hind feet. They differ, however, 

 among other characters, in having a rather long and pointed 

 nail, instead of a flattened one, on the first finger of the 

 hind foot. 



The nng-tailed lemur (L. cattou, Linn.) is the most beau- 

 tiful of the genus. Its motions are characterized by a 

 great degree of elegant lightness : its manners are mild, 

 and its nature very harmless. Its size is equal to that of a 

 large cat, and its wool is extremely soft and fine. The tail 

 is about twice the len th of the whole body, and is marked 



