3*28 CLASS MAMMALIA. 



laterally compressed, trenchant, and sufficiently long to 

 extend to the mouth when it is closed. There are also five 

 molares above. 



The general colour of the fur is a fawn-coloured brown, 

 sprinkled slightly with olive or yellow, and this colour is 

 nearly as uniform in the upper parts of the body as the 

 under. The tail is black at the extremity, and the head of 

 the male is altogether of the same colour, while that of the 

 female is gray. The cheeks are furnished with whiskers of 

 a fine orange, the face, ears, and interior of the hands are 

 of a violet hue ; the female is smaller than the male, more 

 yellowish in the shade of its fur, and differing slightly in 

 the form of the head. 



The Mongous appears to be an animal of very moderate 

 intelligence, extremely inoffensive and remarkably timid. 

 They are easily tamed, but not capable of attachment. 

 They may be accustomed to come when called, by attaching 

 to their name, the allurement of some article of diet of 

 which they are fond. Their life is partly nocturnal. They 

 pass a considerable portion of the day in sleep, rolled in a 

 ball, having their large tail passed between their hind legs 

 and twisted finally round the neck. Like the other Le- 

 murs, the Mongous are essentially formed for climbing 

 trees and jumping. They make prodigious bounds and 

 will traverse the whole extent of a tree with astonishing 

 rapidity. They will jump ten feet from the ground with- 

 out any apparent effort. But they walk on a flat surface with 

 great difficulty. The actions of these animals are not dissi- 

 milar to those of monkeys. They carry their food to the 

 mouth with their hands, and notwithstanding the elonga- 

 tion of the muzzle they drink by suction. When tranquil, 

 their voice is a feeble grumbling, but they utter very strong 

 and grave sounds when frighted. Then they roar in con- 

 cert, producing a most insupportable noise. When two 

 Mongous are accustomed to each other, they live in peace, 



