HAPALEMUR 541 



e 



The genus Hwpalemvr'^ has a sliorter muzzle than Lemur, and 

 sliorter ears. There are two pairs of mammae instead of only 

 one ; these are upon the breast and abdomen. In the male ther 

 is a pair upon the slioulder. The incisors are small, sub-equal, 

 and placed one behind the other ; the last one is at the inside of 

 the canines. The molars of the upper jaw and tlie last premolar 

 have only three well-marked cusps ; in the lower jaw tliey have 

 four. The caecum is blunter and is not so long as in Lemur ; it 

 differs from that of other Lemurinae in having only two support- 

 ing mesenteries, which are both furnished with blood-vessels. As 

 in Lepilemiir and the Indrisinae the carpus has no os centrale. 



The genus, which is confined to the island of aiadagascar, has 

 two species, of which one. If. simus, is the larger and has a broader 

 muzzle, and does not possess the peculiar arm gland (Fig. 258) 

 already described in IT. griseus. TJie former species is stated 1 )y Mr. 

 Shaw to be chiefly a grass-eater, and to dislike berries and fruits, 

 which are usually so popular with Lemurs. It is, however, Ijelieved 

 by some that there is but one species of ILeqialemiir. If. griseus is 

 1 5 inches long, and has a tail of tlie same length. Its native name 

 is " Bokombouli." It is nocturnal, and is especially addicted to 

 bamboos, upon the shoots of which it feeds and among which it 

 lives. It is often exhibited in the Zoological Society's Gardens ; 

 but the specimens seem to be always males. This Lemur is of a 

 dark iron-grey colour with a tinge of yellow, more marked in 

 individuals which have received the separate specific name of 

 If. olivaceiis. 



The genus Lemur is distinguished by the long tail, half as long 

 as the body at the least, by the elongated face, and by the Fox- 

 like muzzle ; the teeth are present to the full number of the family, 

 viz. tliirty-six ; the incisors are small and equal in size, and are 

 separated from each other and from the canines by spaces. The 

 molars of the upper jaw have five cusps, but there are only four 

 in the lower jaw. 



This genus is entirely confined to Madagascar and the Comoro 

 Islands, and consists of several species, the exact number of which 

 is doubtful. Wallace in his Geographical Distributioji allows 

 fifteen ; Dr. Forbes only eight, with a plentiful allowance of 

 varieties. One of the best-known species is Lemur catta, the 



1 Beddard, Proc. Zoo!. Soc. 1884, p. 391, and 1891, p. 449 ; and Jentink, Notes 

 Leyd. Mus. 1885, p. 33. 



