TRUE LEMURS. 211 



their food as fruits. It is probal)ly owing to this mixed diet that they 

 are of a much hardier disposition tlian are those of the indri group, so that 

 they flourish in confinement in this country so well as not unfrequently to breed ; 

 the number of young produced at a birth being either one or two. 



In consequence of their arms being longer in proportion to their logs than 

 in the indri group, the true lemurs and their allies, when on the ground, are in 

 the habit of going on all-fours, although capable of taking leaps of great length. 

 The true lemurs may be distinguished from the other members of the group to 











THE RING-TAILED LEMCR (f Iiat. sizc). 



which the}^ belong by the length of their snouts, and the large size of their tufted 

 ears, as well as by their diurnal habits. 



Ring-Tailed Lemur (Lemur catta). 



One of the best known, and at the same time the most easily recognised of all 

 the true lemurs, is the ring-tailed lemur, represented in the accompanying woodcut. 

 This animal, which may be compared in appearance to a very small fox, is of an 

 ashy grey colour, darker on the back, and white on the under-parts, as well as on 

 the sides of the face, ears, and the middle of the forehead. Its most distinctive 

 feature is, however, to be found in the alternate rings of black and white on the 

 tail, from which it derives its name. It has no fringe round the face. 



The ring-tailed lemur is found in the central parts of Madagascar, ranging on 

 the west coast to Mouroundava, and on the east coast to Andrahoumbe. Like the 

 other members of the group, this lemur lives in small parties, and is most active at 

 early morning and evening ; sleeping during the night with its bushy tail curled 



