THE MADAGASCAR LEMURS 37 



THE SUBORDER OF LEMURS 



Lemuroidea 



On the great island of Madagascar there are no fewer than 

 thirty species of lemurs, many of them very' beautiful creatures, 

 all very kind-spirited and inoffensive, and so numerous that 

 some travellers have declared that "every bush has its lemur." 

 And yet, in America, these creatures are about as little known 

 as if they inhabited Mars instead of Madagascar. During 

 the first six months following the opening of the Primates' 

 House in the New York Zoological Park, at least twenty 

 educated and intelligent young men asked how to spell the 

 word "lemur." 



The lemurs, tarsiers, and aye-aye constitute the lowest 

 grand division of the Ape-and-Monkey Order — Primates. 

 Their low position is due chiefly to their long, foxlike muzzles, 

 and their teeth, which are not monkey-like. Their hands 

 and feet, however, define their position. 



The Ruffed, or Black-and-White, Lemur^ is the hand- 

 somest and most conspicuous animal in this strange group. 

 It is the size of a large house cat, its tail is very long, and the 

 creature is abundantly clothed with long, soft, silky-fine fur, 

 jet-black and pure white. 



Although lemurs have large eyes, and are supposed to be 

 night-prowlers, they are fairly active in the daytime, and are 

 not at all disturbed by daylight. They are charming pets, 

 very affectionate, easily kept, and even with twenty in one 

 large cage they do not quarrel, as monkeys are so prone to do. 



1 Le'mur va'ri-us. 



