186 _ THE ANIMALS OF MADAGASCAR 



move on all fours owing- to the shortness of their arms. They subsist largely on 



fruit, which they are stated to prefer when green and unripe. 



On the sandy wastes of the west and south of the island the diademed species 



is replaced by Verreaux's sifaka (P. verreauxi), which is inferior in size and stouter 



in build, with a longer head and tail, and white hands and feet. The third species 



is the crowned sifaka (P. coronatus), chiefly characterised by the relatively longer 



muzzle and pure white tail ; it is a native of the north-west coast. 



By far the smallest member of the group is the avahi (Avahis 



laniger), characterised by the shortness of the muzzle and the 



woolly nature of the coat. Remarkable variation in colour is displayed by different 



individuals of this species, some being grey, others brindled, and others, again, 



displaying an unusually large proportion of white. The avahi differs from both 



the indri and the sifakas in being wholly nocturnal and not associating in parties, 



although it resembles its relatives in assuming the upright posture when on the 



ground. 



The typical representatives of the family Lemuridce, which, as 

 Typical Lemurs. , , . , , 



already mentioned, are restricted to Madagascar, have elongated 



muzzles and thickly haired ears ; when on the ground, owing to the shortness of 

 their limbs, they generally go about on all fours. One of the most common, and 

 at the same time one of the most striking, is the ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta), a 

 delicately coloured French grey species easily recognised by the feature from 

 which it takes its name. In appearance it is curiously like the South American 

 bassariscs, and is peculiar on account of living among rocks, instead of in trees. 

 It is enabled to climb slippery rock-faces with ease on account of the form and 

 nature of its palms and soles, which act almost like suckers. These lemurs 

 associate in small bands, and are most active and noisy in the early mornings and 

 evenings, sleeping during the night and through the noontide heat, like others of 

 their tribe inhabiting the western slope of the central Malagasy chain. Apparently 

 they never drink. 



Of the arboreal species, the red-fronted lemur (L. riofifrons) is greyish in 

 colour, with a rufous tinge on the front and lower surfaces of the head and 

 body, as well as on the hands, arms, haunches, and the outer side of the 

 limbs. Not improbably it is nothing more than a colour-phase of the mongoose- 

 lemur (L. mungoz), the typical form of which is blackish brown on the head 

 and face, with a black streak on the crown and down the forehead, white- 

 fringed black ears, a grey spot on the side of the forehead, and grey cheeks. 

 Colour-phases of this species are known as the red-footed lemur, the grey-headed 

 lemur, the collared lemur, the rufous lemur, and the black-faced lemur. Very 

 distinct is the black lemur (L. macaco), characterised not only by its colour, but by 

 the long fringes hanging from the ears and reaching to the mouth, the ears, as 

 well as the whiskers, being white in the females. Largest of all is the ruffed 

 lemur (L. varius), which inhabits the north-east coast, and takes its name from 

 the great individual variation in colour. The gentle lemur (Hapalemur griseus), 

 on the other hand, is considerably inferior in size to any of the members of the 

 typical genus ; and is further characterised by the rounded head and short muzzle 

 and ears. The female differs from other lemurs in having four teats, two on the 



