204 



LEMURS. 



is capable of beiiif;' fully opposed to the others), the toes of the foot are joined 

 together 1)y ,i weli as far as the eml of their first joints. For thfise wlio desire to 

 enter more fully into the strueturc of these lennirs, it may l)e mentioned that the 

 total number of teeth in the ailult condition is limite<l to ;TO : the series being 

 represented by the formula if, c\,'p% tw^. All the members of this gi-oup differ 

 from the other lemur-like animals in that thej' do not give birth to more than a 

 single young one at a time. From this circumstance, together with certain features 

 in their structure, these indris are regarded as the most liiglily organised of all 



THE IXDRI LEMCR (J liat. size). 



the lemurs, and are accordingl}' placeil at the head of the list. They subsist ex- 

 clusively on a vegetable diet. 



The indri is sufficiently distinguished from the other two genera included in 

 the group by its mere stump of a tail : although there are also certain other 

 features which support its right to stand as the representative of a distinct genus. 



We have alreadj^ mentioned that the indri is the largest of all the lemurs : and 

 in a fully adult animal the length of the head and body is about two feet. Although 

 there is great individual variation in this respect, the indri is verj' strikingly coloured. 

 Verj' frequently the forehead is blackish, but, like the cheeks and throat, it may be 

 grey. The head, shoulders, back, and arms are of a full velvety black : and the black 

 e.ars are large and prominent, and covered with longer hairs than those on the head. 



