54 WILD BEASTS OF THE WORLD 



The young Lemur or Lemurs — for there are often twins — are carried 

 by the mother for some time, like a young monkey, but not quite in the 

 same way. The little monkey clings lengthways to its mother's chest, 

 while the infant Lemur lies across her stomach, passing its long tail 

 round her waist behind and wrapping the end round its own neck, thus 

 fairly tying itself to her. When older it often rides on her back, as 

 monkeys do under similar circumstances. 



The Ruffed Lemur is remarkable among its relatives not only for 

 its size, but for the length of its fur, and its remarkable variety of 

 colouring, in which it is not exceeded by any animal, and equalled 

 only by few. The types usually seen are the black-and-white and 

 the red ; the latter, however, always has some black on the face and 

 limbs and some white on the back of the neck. Intermediate speci- 

 mens between these types also occur. 



This species is found in the north-east of Madagascar • it is not 

 so common in captivity as some of the smaller kinds, and in confine- 

 ment does not seem so lively, nor does it breed in that condition. Its 

 relations are more readily reconciled to captive life, and some of them 

 breed more freely than any of the monkeys, especially the Black 

 Lemurs [Lemur macaco). In this the male only is black, the female 

 being brown with white whiskers; and he is black from birth, unlike 

 many animals in which this colour is confined to the male sex. The 

 note of this animal is a grunt. 



A very commonly imported Lemur is the Ring-tailed species 

 {Lemur catta). This is very distinct in appearance and habits. In 

 size it is about equal to a Cat, and its fur is short and close, and very 

 constant in colour, which is the same in both sexes. The general hue 

 is silver-grey, with the face and feet white and a black patch round «' 

 each eye ; the tail is white, with numerous rings of black. This very 

 beautiful animal comes from the Betsileo district of Madagascar, and, 

 unlike all other Lemurine animals, is usually found away from trees, 

 frequenting rocks, which it traverses with great agility. All the typical 

 Lemurs are confined to Madagascar and the Comoro Islands. 



