140 LEMUR 



The ranges of the recognized forms of Lemur here given may 

 probably be more extensive than is known at present, at least for some 

 of them, but further exploration of Madagascar, especially in the 

 interior will be necessary to decide positively any doubts now held upon 

 this point. The limits given have been ascertained from specimens in 

 different Museums having particular localities attached to them, and 

 also from various maps placed in the collection of Lemurs in the Paris 

 Museum, prepared, presumably, under the direction and supervision of 

 Grandidier and A. Milne-Edwards. It is greatly to be regretted that 

 the text for the Lemurs in the Histoire Naturelle de Madagascar of the 

 authors above named, was never published, for it would have undoubt- 

 edly have thrown much light upon the variation, distribution and habits 

 of these singular animals. The plates do indeed give in a restricted 

 manner, some idea of how Lemurs vary, but it would require more than 

 one volume of illustrations to exhibit the often extraordinary differ- 

 ences shown by these animals in the hues of their coats, both between 

 individuals, and also at times between the sexes of the same species. 

 This could only be properly demonstrated in the text of a volume de- 

 voted solely to this group. In a work like the present, lack of space 

 only permits that the attention be called to this fact and the inclusion, 

 in the articles on the species, of the descriptions of a few striking 

 instances, which of necessity only give an inadequate idea of the condi- 

 tions existing. 



KEY TO THE SPECIES. 



Males. 



A. Nose white. 



o. Back of head grayish fulvous L. mongoz. 



b. Back of head black bordered with rufous L. coronatus. 



B. Nose black. 



o. Without ruff on sides of neck. 

 a.' Tail without annulations. 



a." Greater portion of head not white. 



a.'" With spot at root of tail L. nigrifrons. 



b!" Without spot at root of tail. 



a. 4 Forehead and top of head black ; 



gray spot over eye L. fulvus. 



fe. 4 Forehead and top of head 



rufous L. ruiifrons. 



c. 4 Forehead and top of head rufous 



brown or chestnut L. rubriventer. 



