444< HISTORY OF 



over its head. When it playi5, it uses a sort of galloping, with 

 its tail raised over its back, which keeps continually in motion. 

 The head is covered with dark ash-coloured hair ; the back and 

 sides W'ith a red ash-colour, and not so dark as on the head ; and 

 the whole glossy, soft, and delicate, smooth to the touch, and 

 standing almost upright like the pile of velvet. It is a native of 

 Madagascar ; appears to be a harmless gentle animal ; and 

 though it resembles the monkey in many respects, yet it has 

 neither its malice nor its mischief: nevertheless, like rhe mon- 

 key, 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 MONGOZ ; 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 ruif round the neck, consist- 

 ing of very long hair, by which it may be easily distinguished 

 from the rest. It differs also in its disposition, which is fierce 

 and savage ; as also in the loudness of its voice, which some- 

 what 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 Mr Buffon calls the lori ; very re- 

 markable for the singularity of its figure.* This is, of all other 



* The genus Loris forms part of that division of the Quadrumanous Order 

 which is essentially distinguislied by an unequal niiiuber or irregular dis. 

 position of the incisor teeth in the two jaws ; terminal nostrils with sinuous 

 openings ; and a long subulate or sickle-shaped claw upon the fore-fiugor 

 of the hinder hands, all the rest of the nails being flat and rounded like those 

 of the greater part of the monkeys and of man. The Loris differ from the 

 other genera of this family in having foiu- incisors in the upper jaw, placed 

 in pairs with a vacant space between, and six in the lower, du-ected ob. 

 liquely forwards ; canines of moderate size ; t«'elve molars above and ton 

 below; a short rounded head ; and little or no tail. Sometimes, it would 

 appear, the lateral uicisors of the upper jaw, which are always smalli'i 

 than the others, are either entirely wanting or so minute as not to be easily 

 seen. In addition to these primary characters the Loris are distinguished 

 l.y large prominent eyes, placed in front of the liead, and at no great di*. 



