INDRIS 177 



neck, back, shoulders and arms black ; in some the crown is white ; sides 

 of neck and forearms are grayish white; a band starting from point 

 in middle of back and widening as it goes down and embracing the 

 entire rump and root of tail, white ; sides dark gray tinged with brown ; 

 upper surface of thighs from body to middle of leg below knee inside, 

 black ; rest of thighs and legs dark gray ; under parts of body and tail 

 gray; hands and feet black. In some specimens the lower back is 

 ashy gray ; flanks bright rufous ; tufts over ears large, upright, black. 

 Although exhibiting such a great variety of color patterns as well as 

 diversity of hues, the species can never be confounded with any 

 other, its large size and stumpy tail making it at all times easily 

 recognizable. 



Measurements. Skull : occipito-nasal length, 91 ; Hensel, 82 ; 

 zygomatic breadth, 58; intertemporal width, 36; length of nasals, 20; 

 width of braincase, 43 ; length of upper molar series, 31 ; palatal length, 

 35 ; length of mandible, 66 ; length of lower molar series, 34. 



Coquerel (I.e.) has given an interesting account of the habits of 

 this species as observed by him in Madagascar. He says it is well 

 known to the inhabitants who call it Babakotou, but never Indri which 

 means in their language "Behold," "look," "see there!" It is probable 

 when Europeans first hunted this animal, the natives drew their atten- 

 tion to it by calling out Indri, and in this way the idea was formed 

 that that was the native name for it. It is very common in the forests 

 of Tamatava where it is considered sacred. The natives never kill 

 it, and they say that the trees on which the Babakotou live supply a 

 sure remedy for many forms of illness ; and they gather carefully the 

 leaves of the trees in which they have seen the animals, for their 

 benefit. The natives state it is very dangerous to attack a Babakotou 

 even with a spear. If this weapon is thrown at one, you may be sure 

 it will be seized in its flight before reaching its mark and will be 

 immediately hurled back at the thrower, and the Babakotou never 

 misses its aim. The tales of which the Indri is the hero are endless. 

 Its ways are full of mystery, and it is subject at birth to a severe 

 trial. When the young one is born, the female takes it in her 

 arms and throws it to the male, who is stationed at a considerable 

 distance away, and he throws it back to its mother, and this is repeated 

 a dozen times or more. If the baby falls to the ground, it is left there, 

 the parents making no effort to recover it, but if it passes the trial 

 without falling, it is tenderly cared for. The Indri is not found on any 



