QUADRUMANA. 



63 



All are restlessly active, and extremely rapid in their movements ; also remarkably short-tempered, bristling 

 with fury when enraged, and putting on a most formidable appearance, considering their size. Tliey are so 

 cleanly, that any appearance of dirt about their habitations causes them to fret ; and are exceedingly sensitive of 

 damp : but, if duly attended to, are easily kept in captivity. 



The Platyrrhini were very properlj' ranged by Buffon in two great natural divisions, named liy 

 him Sapajous and Sagouins ; to the latter of which the Omstith are strictly referable, to judge from 

 the aggregate of their conformation. We cannot but tliink that Cuvier has, in this rare instance, 

 attached undue importance to the number of molar teeth, iu so decidedly separating the Ouistitis from 

 the other small American Quadmmana.'] 



The Lemurs, {Lemur, Linn.), 

 [Strepsirrhini, Geo/.'], — 



Comprehend, according to Linnseus, all the Quadrumana vyhich have [supposed] incisors in eitlier 

 jaw differing in nnml)er from four, or at least otherwise directed than in the Monkeys. This 

 ^ , negative character coidd not fail to em- 



brace very different beings, while it did 

 not unite those which should range to- 

 gether. M. Geofii-oy has established 

 several better characterized divisions in 

 th'.s genus. The four thumbs of these 

 auimals are well developed and oppos- 

 able, and the first hind finger is armed 

 with a raised and 23ointed claw (fig. 4), 

 all the other nails being flat. Their cover- 

 ing is woolly ; and their teeth begin to 

 exhibit sharp tubercles, catching in each 

 other, as in the Insectivora. [These 

 animals have been described to differ 

 from all other Mammalia in the circum- 

 stance of their upper canines locking 

 outside or before the lower : but we have 

 just discovered that their true inferior canines have always hitherto been mistaken for ad- 

 ditional incisors, which they resemble in general aspect and direction ; while the succeeding 

 tooth, which from its size and appearance has been supposed to be the lower canine, is in 

 reality the first false molar ; (as will readily appear on opposing the successive teeth of both 

 jaws). In the genus Tarsius, however, the true canine assumes more of its ordinary form; 

 and the same is observable of the first false molar in Microcebus* The grincUng motion of 

 the lower jaw is exceedingly reduced.] 



The Lemurs, properly so called {Lemur, as restricted [Prosimia, Briss.]), — 

 Have six [four] lower incisors, compressed, and slanting forwards [as are also the canines] ; four in 

 the upper jaw, which are straight, those intermediate being separated from each other ; trenchant 

 [upper] canines ; six molars on each side above, and six belowf; the ears small. They are very 

 nimble animals, and have been designated Fox-nosed Monkeys, from their pointed heads. They 

 subsist on fruits. Their species are very numerous, and inhabit only the island of Madagascar, where 

 tliey appear to replace the Monkey-tribe, wliich, it is said, do not exist there. They differ but slightly 

 among themselves, except in colour. 



[Thirteen, at least, have been ascertained definitively ; one of the longest known of which is the Macaco of 

 Bufion, or the Ring-tailed Lemur (L. catfa, Lin.), which is ash-grey, the tail annulated black and white. Others 

 are black, or rufous, with sometimes white ; and one beautiful species, the Rufled Lemur (L. macaco, Lin.), is 



Fig. 4.— Ha 



Dfi Foot of Lemur 



* An approach to this deviation on the part of the inferior canine i 



noticeable in the adult Mandrill.— Eo. 



t The latter statement 

 would have been erioncou! 



anccs to be correct, but, 

 -Ed. 



