[ 59 ] 



II. On recently discovered Suhfossil Primates from Madagascar. By Herbert 

 F. Standing, IJ.Sg. {Leeds), M.Sc. [Vict.). — With an Appendix: On the Form 

 of the Brain in the Extinct Lemurs of Madagascar, with some Remarks on the 

 Affinities of the Indrisinae. By G. Elliot Smith, M.A., M.I)., F.R.S., Professor 

 of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Cairo. 



Eeoeived and read March 19, 1907. 



[Plates X.-XXVIII. aiid Text-figures 1-52.] 



INTEODUCTION. 



XHE existence in Madagascar of a considerable subfossil fauna has long been known 

 to zoologists, but it is only within quite recent years that the extent and scientific 

 interest of these remains have been recognised. In his valuable thesis on fossil 

 Lemuroidea, published in 1906, Dr. G. Grandidier has given a summary of the results 

 of the work of various travellers and investigators in this field during the last few years. 

 I need not here do more than refer to the memoirs of Forsyth Major, Andrews, 

 Milne-Edwards, Filhol, Grandidier, Lorenz, Guldberg, Burckhardt, and others, who have 

 done so much to throw light on the nature and affinities of the numerous mammalian 

 and other vertebrate ripmains which have been brought to Europe during recent years. 



The various localities where these remains have been found are situated chiefly on 

 the south-west and south coasts of the island, and include both lacustrine and cave- 

 deposits. In the volcanic regions of the central plateau two districts have been 

 discovered and partially explored which have already yielded very valuable additions 

 to our knowledge of the subfossil fauna of Madagascar. 



The more recently discovered of these localities is situated at Ampasambazimbas 

 about 100 kilometres to the west of the capital, in the district of Miarinarivo (text- 

 fig. 1). The Academic Malgache, a scientific society the headquarters of which are in 

 Tananarive, has undertaken the systematic study of the numerous remains exhumed at 

 this place ; and at the request of this Society I have had occasion during the last four 

 years to publish in the Bulletin of the Academic several preliminary notices referring 

 to the various subfamilies of Lemuroids represented among these remains. The 

 richness and variety of the material already discovered and the interesting nature of 

 the conclusions which it appears to me may legitimately be drawn from a detailed 

 study of these recently extinct Lemuroids, seem to warrant a more systematic treatment 

 than it was possible to give in the brief notices above referred to. 



VOL. XVIII. — PART II. No. 1. — May, 1908. £ 



