5 38 THE INDRI 



and to some small ueiglibouring islands. The rest occur in the 

 Ethiopian and in the Oriental region. The rest of the world is 

 at present totally without Lemurs, thougli, as will be seen in the 

 sequel, the order was more widely spread over the globe in past 

 times. 



Fam. 1. Lemuridae. — This family can be usefully subdivided 

 into four sub-families. 



Sub-Fam. 1. Indrisinae. — This sub-family is limited to Mada- 

 gascar, and has been exhaustively treated of by yi. GrandidicF 

 and Professor Milne-Edwards in the Histoire de Madagascar. 

 These Lemurs contrast with others by tlie large size of the hind- 

 as compared with the fore-limbs. The ears are short. The tail 

 varies in length. The thumb is but slightly opposable, and the 

 toes are webbed. Correlated with the first two of these 

 characters, these Lemurs when upon tire ground progress by 

 means of the hind-limbs, holding their arms above their heads. 

 The number of teeth is reduced, tlie total being thirty. The 

 formula^ is I|- G^ Lm-I- M^-. The colon or large intestine, as 

 figured by Milne-Edwards, has a remarkaljle watch-spring-like coil, 

 highly suggestive of the Euminants and of certain Eodents. This, 

 however, is only in Frojntkecus and Avahis. The caecum in 

 this sub-family is specially large. The brain is characterised by 

 the comparatively slight development of the angular fissure in 

 PropUhecus and Avahis ; it is in them anterior in position. In 

 Indris it is more S-shaped and larger as in Lemur. The 

 parieto-occipital fissure is fairly well developed, so too is the 

 antero-temporal. 



The genus Indris has more pronounced external ears than 

 have the two other genera of the sub-family. The tail is 

 rudimentary. The incisors of the upper jaw are sub-equal and 

 set close together, those of the lower jaw have marked longitudinal 

 ridges upon the outer surface, which suggests (Tidaypithecus (see 

 p. 520). The molars are quadricnspidate. There is but a single 

 species, /. hrevicaudata, which is of a black colour, diversified with 

 white upon the rump and the limbs. The term " Indri " " means, 

 as does " Aye-aye," " look."' One of the native names for the 



' So at least the formula has lieen given ; but it is very possible that the 

 supposed second incisor i.s really, judging from the other Lemurs, a canine. 



^ The Malagasy, however, must be vague in definition, or their interpreters 

 not well grounded in the rudiments of tlie language ; for Sonnerat states that 

 Indri signifies " liomme dcs hois." 



