42 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES. 



unlike that of a cat ; to which its general size may be 

 compared. 



The colouring of the ring-tailed lem.ur is peculiarly 

 elegant. The face is deep black and pure white ; the 

 first colour forming a broad ring round each eye^ and 

 covering the muzzle and the forehead^ while all the rest 

 of the head^ ears, and cheeks are white : the back and 

 sides of the body are reddish ash-colour^ but the outside 

 of the legs are of a lighter grey : all the under parts are 

 white. The tail is very long, and elegantly ringed with 

 black and white, the colours being alternate. The hair 

 of the whole body is very soft and delicate to the touch, 

 rather standing erect like the pile of velvet, than lying 

 down sleek. Edwards remarks, that when it plays, 

 " it uses a sort of galloping, with its tail raised over its 

 back." 



The Dwarf Lemur. 



Scartes murinus, Noh. Otolicnus pusillus, llUger. Lemur 

 murinus, Gnielin. Little Lemur, Brown. Rat de Mada- 

 gascar, Buffon. Little Macauco, Pennant. Maki nain, 

 Cuvier. 



Although our countryman Peter Brown figured this 

 pretty little animal from a living specimen then in Eng- 

 land, it does not appear to have fallen under the subse- 

 quent observation of any of our own naturalists. M. 

 Fred, Cuvier, however, has supplied some very interest- 

 ing particulars regarding one which lived in the Garden 

 of Plants, and from whose account we shaU now extract 

 a short notice. Like others of its family, the dwarf 

 lemur is completely a nocturnal animal. He passed the 



ticular animal, but in connection with those wonderful and beautiful 

 analogies by which beings the most opposite in form are yet obviously 

 made to represent each other. We have not yet had an opportunity of ex- 

 amining into the correctness of this statement, nor does Mr. Griffiths state 

 from what author he has taken it ; but, presuming upon its correctness, we 

 feel not the slightest doubt that the arms of the other lemurs will be found 

 exhibiting a similar structure, and that therefore this family, in all pro- 

 bability, represents the family of Mantidce among the Ptilota, or insects, 

 and the mantis-like crabs among the Crustacea, in the next circle of Ap- 

 terous insects. 



