MAMMALIA. 



357 



persistent pulps and enamel in front only, as we have seen 

 in the rodents. The toes have claws, except the great ones, 

 which have a flat nail ; the digits are remarkably long and 

 slender, especially the middle and third of the fore -arras. 

 They are about the size of a cat. The general color is dark 

 brown, the long, loose, outer fur having a woolly under- 

 coat. They feed upon the succulent juices of sugar-cane, 

 also insects and grubs obtained from trees with their pow- 

 erful teeth. They are truly nocturnal. Their, nests are 

 formed of balls of leaves lodged in the forks of large trees. 

 Lemur (Lemurida). The ring-tailed lemur {Lemur 

 catta] is one of the most striking of the family, and is of 

 a beautiful gray color, its tail marked with alternate rings 

 of black and white, the face and inner surface of the 

 ears white, and the top of the head dark. It is the only 

 ground member of 

 the family, living 

 among the rocks 

 and bushes, walk- 

 ing on all-fours. 

 The upper canine 

 teeth are extreme- 

 ly large, the low- 

 er canine extend- 

 ing out horizon- 

 tally from the jaw. 

 The young, gen- 

 erally two, are at 

 first nearly naked, 

 and are carried 

 about in the arms 



of the mother, later clinging to her long hair. They utter 

 loud cries, and feed upon eggs, young birds, insects, fruits, 

 buds, or flowers (Fig. 376). The Propithecus is a com- 

 mon form in Madagascar ; the Indris is the largest of the 

 group. Allied is the lori (Fig. 377). 



FIG. 377. Loris, showing (i) skull and (2) op- 

 posable thumb. 



