3° 



MAMMALIA— ORDER I.— PRIMA TES. 



15. — The EiNG-TArLEC Lemur 



turnal in habits, these lemurs feed on a mixed diet ; and the females 

 carry their oiFspring singly transversely across the lower part of their 

 bodies. 



The two species of gentle lemurs are separated from the last on account of 

 their short, truncated muzzle, small and hairy ears, the small size of tlte 

 upper incisor teeth, which 

 Gentle Lemur are in contact with 0119 

 (Hapahmur). another, and with the can- 

 ine on each side, and like- 

 wise by the presence of four teats on the 

 breast of the female. 



A third generic group, with several species, 



is separated on account of the small size or 



absence of the upper incisor 



Sportive Lemur teeth, the bald ears, and the 



(Lepidolemur). more elongated muzzle ; the 



females having four teeth. 



One species (Lepidolemur ccmiceps) is by 



some referred to a genus apart, under the 



name of Mixocebits. 



The galagos, which are confined to the 

 forests of the warmer parts of Africa, are 

 the typical representatives 

 Galagos of a third sub-family, readily 



(Galago). distinguished from the fore- 



going by the great elongation of two of the bones of the 

 ankle-joint. The galagos themselves are characterised by the large naked 

 ears being capable of folding at the will of their owner ; the long tail being 

 generally bushy, and the females having two teats on the breast and two on 

 the abdomen. 



Galagos vary in size from that of a rat to that of a small cat. In habits 

 they are nocturnal and omnivorous ; and when they descend to the ground, 

 their progression is by hops, for which the structure of their liind-lirabs is 

 specially adapted. The Senegal galago {Galago senecjalcnsis), which goes 

 about the forest either singly or in pairs, makes a nest in the fork of a tree, 

 and in the daytime either retires to that resort, or reposes on a branch, with 

 its tail folded across its body and round its neck ; ah\ays being unwilling to 

 move, and staring with its great eyes at passing travellei's. 



The mouse-lemurs, which by many writers are divided into tlie genera 

 Chirogale, Microcebus, and Opolcmnr, although here all included under the 

 former name, are the IMalagasy representatives of the 

 Mouse-Lemurs galagos, and include a, large number of small-sized species. 

 (Chirogale). From the galagos they may be distinguished by the large 

 ears being hairy at the base, and incapable of folding. None 

 of these lemurs exceed a rat in size, and several of the species pass the dry 

 season in a state of torpor, which they are enabled to endure by previously 

 accumulating a largo store of fat at the root of the tail. Such sleeps usually 

 take place in hollow trees, where tb.e little animals carefully build a comfort- 

 able nest of grass and fallen leaves. 



The remaining members of the Lemnriihc form ;i fourth sub-familj', agree- 

 ing with the typical one in the number of the teeth, but distinguished by 

 the second or index finger of the fore-paws being either very short or rudi- 



