MAMMALIA. 443 



much owing to the loss of blood, as to the inflammation which 

 the pressure of the saddle afterwards produces."* 



Some Bats are of considerable dimensions. There is one 

 species in the island of Java (Steropus Javanicus), the 

 expanse of whose wings is so much as five feet. It is pro- 

 bable that some of the large Indian Bats, with their predatory 

 habits and obscure retreats, may have suggested to Virgil the 

 idea of the Harpies " which fell upon the hastily- spread tables 

 of his hero and his companions, and polluted, whilst they 

 devoured, the feast from which they had driven the affrighted 

 guests."* 



ORDER QUADRUM ANA. MONKEYS. 



"Meddling Monkey busy Ape." SHAKSPEARE. 



THOSE who have visited a zoological garden, or a well-stocked 

 menagerie, cannot fail to have been amused at the freaks and 

 gambols of the monkeys ; and after watching for a time their 

 agile movements and grotesque attitudes, must have been 

 struck with the peculiar formation of the extremities, both of 

 the feet and of the paws. The feet are not shaped like ours, 

 but resemble hands, being furnished with fingers and with 

 thumbs. In fact they do not perform the functions of feet 

 only, but of hands also. Hence that order to which the 

 Monkeys belong, is termed quadrumana, or four-handed. 



We are not, however, to suppose that every individual 

 belonging to this group, possesses both on hands and feet a 

 thumb which can be applied or opposed to each of the fingers. 

 The American Monkeys, for example, are by this single cir- 

 cumstance distinguished at once from those of the Old World. 

 They have the full power of using the thumbs which are on 

 the feet, but not those which are on the anterior extremities. 

 By such differences, and by those in the dentition, the pre- 

 sence or absence of cheek pouches, and other peculiarities, 

 the order is sub-divided into families, genera, and species. 



We shall briefly notice the Lemurs of Madagascar, the 

 Monkeys of America, and those of the Old World. 



* Voyages of the Adventure and Beagle, vol. iii. p. 25. 

 f Bell's Quadrupeds, p. 9. 



