THE TRUE LEMURS, 65 
The external coloration of the species of this Sub-family is 
remarkably variable, the variation being chiefly in the upper 
portion of the hairs, as their base is generally slate-grey. 
The sub-family Zesusine embraces four genera: the True 
Lemurs (Zemur), of which there are now eight recognised 
species ; the Hattock (AZzxocebus), with a solitary species ; the 
Gentle-Lemurs (/apa/emur), containing two species, and the 
Sportive-Lemurs (Zefidolemur), with seven species. Some of 
the most elegantly coloured species in the Animal Kingdom 
belong to this group. ‘They are gregarious, and most of them 
arboreal, though some are not so. They form rather an 
exception to the general rule among Lemurs, in not being 
nocturnal. They feed during the morning and evening, 
emitting loud cries as they move about, and during the heat of 
the day, they often lie stretched out in the sun ; at night they 
rest with their long tails coiled about them. In their mode of 
progression they are more quadrupedal than most of the other 
Lemuroids ; they jump, walk, or run on all fours. Their food 
consists of fruits, birds’ eggs, birds and insects. Their infants 
are carried about close to, and concealed amid, the hair of 
their mother’s breast ; when older they cling to her back. 
The True Lemurs are all inhabitants of Madagascar and of 
the adjacent Comoro Islands. ‘They are unknown on the 
African continent. 
THE TRUE LEMURS. GENUS LEMUR. 
Prosimia, Brisson, Regn. Anim., p. 220 (1756). 
Lemur, Linn., Syst. Nat., 1., p. 44 (1766). 
Varecia, Giay, P.Z...5.,. 1863, p. 135. 
This genus contains the typical Lemurs, in their most 
restricted sense. They are characterised by having a very 
3—V. I . F 
