THE SLENDER LORIS. 29 
their stealthy noiseless step, which renders their progress almost as inaudible 
as that of the unearthly beings from whom they derive their name. 
The RuFFED LEMUR is one of the handsomest of this family, challenging 
a rivalship even with the Ring-tailed Lemur in point of appearance. 
The texture of the fur 
is extremely fine, and its 
colour presents bold con- 
trasts between pure white 
and jetty: blackness. The 
face of the Ruffed Lemur 
is black, and a fringe of 
long white hairs stands 
out like a ruff round the 
face. 
As is the case with all the 
Lemurs, it is a native of 
Madagascar and of the ad- 
jacent islands, and seems to 
take the place of the ordin- 
ary monkeys. Of all the 
Lemurs this species is the 
largest, its size equalling 
that of a moderately 
RUFFLED LEMUR.—(Lemur Macaco.) grown cat. Its voice is 
a sepulchral, deep roar, 
peculiarly loud, considering the size of the animal, and can be heard at a 
great distance in the stilly night. 
The SLENDER LorRIS is a small animal, measuring only nine inches in 
length, and possessed of limbs so delicately slender as to have earned for it 
its popular name. Its colour is 
grey, with a slight rusty tinge, the 
under portions of the body fading 
into white. Round the eyes, the fur 
takes a darker hue, which is well 
contrasted by a white streak running 
along the nose. 
Small though it be, and apparently 
without the power to harm, it is a 
terrible enemy to the birds and in- 
sects on which it feeds, and which it 
captures “like Fabius, by delay.” 
Night, when the birds are rest- 
ing with their heads snugly sheltered 
by their soft feathers, is the time 
when the Loris awakes from its daily 
. ion slumbers, and stealthily sets forth 
SLENDER LoRIs.—(Loris gracilis.) on its search. Its movements are 
so slow and silent, that not a sound 
falls on the ear to indicate the presence of a living animal. 
Alas for the doomed bird that has attracted the fiery eyes of the Loris! 
With movements as imperceptible and as silent as the shadow on the dial, 
paw after paw is lifted from its hold, advanced a step and placed again on 
the bough, until the destroyer stands by the side of the unconscious victim. 
Then, the hand is raised with equal silence,until the fingers overhang the 
bird and nearly touch it. Suddenly the slow caution is exchanged for light- 
