MAMMALS 333 



digits in both hand and foot and each digit is furnished with 

 a fiat nail. The orbit of the eye is surrounded bya complete 

 bony rim. 



We have finally reached the highest group of mammals 

 and, at the same time, the highest group of animals in the 

 kingdom. They are, therefore, known as the Primates. 

 The primates include the lemurs, monkeys, baboons, 

 chimpanzee, orang-outang, gorilla, gibbon, and man. 



The lemurs are apelike mammals living in India, tropical 

 parts. of Africa, and the Island of Madagascar. They are 

 the lowest members of the Primates. The baboons are 

 found in Arabia and Africa and usually live in troops, often 

 raiding plantations at night. They are fond of berries, 

 tamarinds, and other fruits, but usually destroy and carry 

 away more of these fruits than they eat. They are repul- 

 sive animals and their faces resemble that of a dog, while 

 they can walk easily and handily on all fours. 



The orang-outang is one of the four primates that stand 

 nearest to man, the other three being the gibbon, chim- 

 panzee, and gorilla. The orang-outang is found in the low 

 swampy parts of the Island of Borneo and rarely in Sumatra. 

 It is about four feet six inches high, is strictly arboreal, 

 and travels by swinging from branch to branch. It con- 

 structs a rude nest in trees some twenty or thirty feet from 

 the ground. 



The chimpanzee, in general appearance, is more like man 

 than any other of the tailless apes. It is found in central 

 and western Africa and even north to the Sudan. The 

 body is more or less covered with a coat of shiny, thick 

 hair, very dark, nearly black in color. It is a good climber 

 and makes its nest of sticks and broken limbs in the forks 

 of branches of trees ten or twenty feet above the ground. 



