ORDER QUADRUMANA. 227 



The Mico, {Simia Argentata, L.) Buff. XV. xvm. 



Silvery grayish white, sometimes white al- 

 together. Tail brown. From the river of 

 Amazons. 



THE LEMURS 



Comprehend, according to Linnaeus, all the quad- 

 rumana which have in either jaw, the number of in- 

 cisives different from four, or at least differently 

 directed than in the monkeys. This negative cha- 

 racter cannot fail to include very different beings, 

 and does not even combine all that ought to be 

 united. M. Geoffroy has established in this genus 

 several divisions better characterized, of which we 

 adopt the following : 



The Makis, or Lemur s proper, 



Have six teeth below, compressed closely and lean- 

 ing forwards, four above, straight, and the interme- 

 diate ones separated one from the other. Long 

 canines, cheek-teeth of monkeys, a long tail, a 

 pointed nail on the index of the hind hand only, all 

 the rest flat. They are extremely agile animals, and 

 have received the name of fox-headed monkeys, 

 on account of their pointed muzzle. They live on 

 fruits. The species are numerous, and their only 

 habitat is the island of Madagascar, where they 

 seem to occupy the place of the monkeys, which 

 are not found in that region. These species differ 

 little from each other except in colour. 



