100 LEMURS. 



internal structvire ; but as these require a certain amount 

 of anatomical knowledge for their proper comprehension, 

 we must ask our readers to take it on trust that such 

 differences do exist. Extemallj, lemurs differ from ordi- 

 nary monkej'S by their more or less fos-like and immobile 

 countenauces, but since the marmosets of South America 

 (which are a lowly type of monkey) resemble them in 

 this respect, this character does not afford an absolute 

 distinction between the two groups. All lemurs are 

 further characterized hj having the second toe terminating 

 in a long pointed claw, as shown in the right hand lower 

 figure of our first illustration, whereas in ordinary monkeys 

 the same toe has a flattened nail. Unfortunately, how- 

 ever, the marmosets have also a pointed claw on the toe in 

 question, so that this character does not afford an absolute 

 point of distinction between the two. On examining the 

 upper teeth of the lemurs it will, however, be found that, 

 except in the aye-aye of Madagascar, the first pair of 

 incisor or front teeth are separated from one another in 

 the middle line by a distinct gap, whereas in all monkeys 

 they are, as in ourselves, in contact. Now as the aye-aye 

 differs from all monkeys in having its first upper incisors 

 of the chisel-like form characteristic of rodents (rats, 

 beavers, &c.), the upper front teeth of the lemurs will 

 serve to distinguish them absolutely from the whole of 

 the monkeys. 



In appearance the various kinds of lemurs differ greatlv 

 from one another, some of them looking not unlike 

 monkeys ; while others, as the one represented in Fig. 32, 

 are characterized by their long and slender limbs, enormous 

 eyes, and general ghostly form. Then, again, while some 

 of them are furnished with long tails, others are destitute 

 of these appendages ; and the common cat-lemur of 

 Madagascar is distinguished from all the rest by the bold 

 alternating rings of black and white with which the tail is 

 ornamented. The last-named species is further peculiar in 

 living chiefly among rocks, whereas the others are arboreal 

 and mainly nocturnal in their habits. It is from these 

 nocturnal habits, coupled with the large eyes, ghostly 

 appearance, and stealthy movements, chajacteristic of 



