218 



THE MALAGASY REGION. 



[CHAP. 



differing from other members of the suborder by their diurnal 

 habits. They form a characteristic feature in every wooded Mala- 

 gasy landscape, there being scarcely a copse in the island which is 

 not tenanted by one or more of these strange creatures ; and when 



FIG. 49. RING-TAILED LEMUR (Lemur catta). 



walking from covert to covert, they do so in an erect posture, with 

 their hands clasped behind their necks. 



Whereas the endrina (the largest living lemur) is only two feet 

 in length exclusive of the rudimentary tail, the extinct Megala- 

 dapis, whose remains have been obtained from the Ambolisatra 

 marsh, had a skull three times the size of that of the latter, so that 



