WOOLLY. 91 



hands and feet are naked and dusky; the nails 

 flat, except on the interior toe of the hind feet 

 next the thumb, which has a sharp claw. This 

 species varies sometimes a little in colour ; the ends 

 of the limbs and the paws being of a dull orange- 

 colour, or yellow, and sometimes white, with the 

 face entirely brown. It is a native of Madagas- 

 car and some other Indian islands ; and lives prin- 

 cipally on fruit. When in a state of captivity 

 it is commonly gentle and sportive. That de- 

 scribed by the Count de Buffon seems to have been 

 of a different disposition ; but individuals of all ani- 

 mals must be supposed to differ from each other 

 with respect to temper and manners, according 

 to circumstances. The individual just mentioned 

 uttered almost constantly a low grunting noise; 

 and when tired of being alone, croaked in the man- 

 ner of a frog, so loud as to be heard to a great 

 distance : its tongue was rough, like that of a cat ; 

 and the Count de Buffon adds, that, when per- 

 mitted, it would lick a person's hand till the skin 

 was inflamed. This species appears also to vary 

 sometimes in size. The larger variety is described 

 and figured in the Count de Cepede's additions 

 to Buffon's History of Quadrupeds, under the title 

 of Le grand Mongous ; and seems to differ in no 

 other respect than size from the animal in its 

 usual state. 



v. i. 7 . 



