CHARACTERS OF THE LEMURS AND TARSIUS. 



31 



approximately to the distal ends of the first phalanges. In 

 Indris the interdigital webbing is somewhat deeper than in the 

 others and extends to an equal distance along all the digits, but 

 in Propithecus and Lichanotus it is deeper between the third 

 and fourth than between the second and third and the fourth 

 and fifth. 



Some of the peculiarities of the hand of Chiromys, such as the 

 presence of claws and the modification of the third digit, are well 

 known (text-fig. 6, B). The palm is narrower than in the true 

 Lemurs. The pollex is not truly opposable, but it is so long that 

 when turned forwards it overlaps the palm, as in Man. All the 

 other digits are long, even the second and fifth, which are sub- 

 equal, exceeding the length of the palm. The third is very long 

 and slender ; the metacarpal that supports it projects beyond the 

 palm, a unique modification which confers exceptional mobility 

 on the digit. Nevertheless this digit, is shorter than the fourth, 

 which is nearly twice as long as the palm. Although a shallow 

 web joins these two digits at the base, the hand may be described 

 as nn webbed. In correlation with the grasping capacity of the 

 large claws, the digital pads are comparatively slightly expanded. 



The feet are less modified than the hands and conform to those 

 of the Lemur-type, except that the digits are thinner, the hallux 

 is a little shorter and weaker, the second, third, fourth, and fifth 

 are a little longer and armed with claws correlated with narrower 

 pads. The heel is covered with hair as in all Lemurs except 

 L. caita (text-fig. 6, A). 



In this genns the unique elongation of the metacarpal of the 

 third digit of the hand and the slenderness of the digit are 

 adaptations to feeding. 



In Galago of the crass icaudatus and senegalensis types the hand 

 is wider than in Chirogaleus and its pads still better differentiated 

 and more prominent, especially the first, or pollical, intermediate. 

 All the normal six pads are distinguishable. The internal 

 proximal is a small pad situated near the base of the outer border 

 of the thumb, and the external proximal is a rounded pad in 

 contact with the internal intermediate and not extending back- 

 wards to the wrist as in Chirogaleus and the true Lemurs. A 

 wide space separates it from the internal proximal, which is also 

 set nearer the wrist. Similar differences obtain in the feet, 

 where all the six pads are clearly defined. In G. crassicaudatus, 

 monteiri and their allies the posterior part of the naked portion 

 of the foot, as Beddard pointed out, is covered with coarse close- 

 set papilla?, and the hairy area of the heel is longer than in 

 Chirogaleus major, being about as long as the naked portion. 

 In G. senegalensis it is considerably longer (text-figs. 5, C, 13 ; 

 7, A, B). 



In Hemigalago the pads show some interesting differences 

 from those of Galago. In the hand the six pads are even more 

 sharply defined, and are arranged so as almost to encircle a large 

 naked submedian area of wrinkled skin. The two proximal pads 



