ORDER QUADRUMANA. 327 



to the individuals described it should be less for the purpose 

 of designating them as species, than to mark the differ- 

 ences which distinguish them individually. 



The name of Mongous is vulgarly applied to all the Le- 

 murs whose colour is more or less of an olive brown. But 

 it is by no means certain that it has as yet been employed to 

 designate a species whose characteristics and limits have 

 been correctly determined. 



The size of this animal, from the sole of the foot to the 

 most elevated part of the body, is a little more than a foot. 

 From the origin of the tail to the occiput is about a foot, and 

 the tail itself is nearly two and twenty inches long. The 

 hands, both anterior and posterior, have five fingers, the 

 thumb being perfectly distinct, and much more developed on 

 the hinder than the fore-feet. All the nails are flat, except 

 that of the index of the hind hand, which is crooked and 

 very sharp. The nostrils open at the extremity of the 

 muzzle exactly in the manner of those of dogs. The under 

 jaw is less advanced than the upper, and the tongue is 

 soft. The ears are rounded externally, and resemble those 

 of man in having the opening of the auditory conduit of 

 considerable dimensions. Something resembling mustachios 

 is seen at the under jaw, on the sides of the upper, and 

 under the eyes. If these animals have any peculiar organs 

 of touch, it must reside in the fingers, the skin of which is 

 extremely delicate. The fur is remarkable for its fine 

 woolly hairs, and the whole body is covered by it nearly in 

 an equal proportion, except the face and hands. 



The teeth of the Mongous have a peculiar character. 

 There are six incisors in the lower jaw, compressed toge- 

 ther and directed forwards, two canines compressed later- 

 ally, smaller than those in the other jaw, and five molares 

 with pointed tubercles. In the upper jaw, are four straight 

 incisors, separated from each other in pairs, two canines 



