546 



MAMMALIA. 



pithecTis, and the Avahi. Very little is known of the habits of 

 these animals ; for we are only cognisant of the fact that they 

 live in forests and subsist on fruits. They are the largest of the 

 Quadrumana of Madagascar, and those which most closely resemble 

 the true Monkeys. Their posterior limbs are longer than the 

 anterior ones, a circumstance which renders a vertical attitude 

 more easy. 



The Indri Lichanotus (Illiger), Fig. 239, was discovered, as well 

 as the Aye- Aye, by Sonnerat. The inhabitants of Madagascar 



"■jB. — WliKe-i'ooted Lemur. 



call it the Man of the Woods, because of its resemblance — though 

 remote — to our own species. VV hen standing erect it measures 

 forty inches. Naturally of a mild temper, it readily submits to 

 captivity, and can even be trained to hunt. 



The Propithecus (Bennett) differs from the Indri by its smaller 

 size and by its tail, which is nearly as long as its body. Its coat 

 is yellow-coloured, varied with brown. A wide collar surrounds 

 its face, and terminates above the eyes in a kind of crown, which 

 has given it the name of the Diadem Propithecus (Fig. 240). The 



