228 



LEMURS. 



The Commox Loris (X}/cticebii,9 iardigradus). 



The common loris, or slow lemur, may be taken as the typical representative 

 of the genus Xycticebus. The distinctive features of this animal, as the repre- 

 sentative of a genus, are that the eyes are not of very enormous size, and are 

 separated from one another by a considerable space; while the general build of 

 the animal — more especially as regards its limbs — is comparatively stout. 



The name loris, bj- which all the slow lemurs are commonly designated, is derived 

 from the Dutch word Loeris, meaning a clown, and appears to have been applied to 



THE COMMON LORIS (j Uat. sizi'). 



these animals by the Dutch colonists of the East Indian Islands. To the natives of 

 India the slow loris is known either by the name Sharmindi billi, " bashful cat," or 

 Lajjar banar, " bashful monkey." It is an animal about the size of a cat ; different 

 individuals or races varying considerably in size, so that while some specimens do not 

 measure more than 13 inches in total length, others may reach as much as 15 inches, 

 or even more. Its proportions are thick and clumsy ; the head being broad and 

 flat, with a slightly projecting and pointed muzzle. The large eyes are perfectly 

 circular, and their pupils can be completely closed by the gradual contraction of 

 the iris, whicli opens from above and below, so that when the pupil is half concealed 



