QUADRUMANA. 
63 
All are restlessly active, and extremely rapid in their movements ; also remarkably short-tempered, bristling 
with fury when enraged, and putting on a most formidable appearance, considering their size. They are so 
cleanly, that any appearance of dirt about their habitations causes them to fret ; and are exceedingly sensitive of 
damp : but, if duly attended to, are easily kept in captivity. 
The Platyrrhini were very properly ranged by Buffon in two great natural divisions, named by 
him Sapajous and Sagouins ; to the, latter of which the Ouistitis are strictly referable, to judge from 
the aggregate of their conformation. We cannot but think that Cuvier has, in this rare instance, 
attached undue importance to the number of molar teeth, in so decidedly separating the Ouistitis from 
the other small American Quadrumana.'\ 
The Lemurs, {Lemur, Linn.), 
[Strepsirrhini, Geof .'], — 
Comprehend, aceording to Linnaeus, all the Quadrumana which have [supposed] incisors in either 
jaw differing in number from four, or at least otherwise directed than in the Monkeys. This 
negative character could not fail to em- 
brace very different beings, while it did 
not unite those w^hich should range to- 
gether. M. Geoffroy has established 
several better characterized divisions in 
this genus. The four thumbs of these 
animals are well developed and oppos- 
able, and the first hind finger is armed 
with a raised and pointed claw (fig. 4), 
all the other nails being flat. Their cover- 
ing is woolly; and their teeth begin to 
exhibit sharp tubercles, catching in each 
other, as in the Insectivora. [These 
animals have been described to differ 
from all other Mammalia in the circum- 
stance of their upper canines locking 
outside or before the lower : but we have 
just discovered that their true inferior canines have always hitherto been mistaken for ad- 
ditional incisors, w^hich they resemble in general aspect and direction ; while the succeeding 
tooth, which from its size and appearance has been supposed to be the lower canine, is in 
reality the first false molar ; (as will readily appear on opposing the successive teeth of both 
jaws). In the genus Tarsius, however, the true canine assumes more of its ordinary form; 
and the same is observable of the first false molar in Microcehus."^ The grinding motion of 
the lower jaw is exceedingly reduced.] 
The Lemurs, properly so called {Lemur, as restricted [Prosimia, Briss.]), — 
Have six [four] lower incisors, compressed, and slanting forwards [as are also the canines] ; four in 
the upper jaw, which are straight, those intermediate being separated from each other ; trenchant 
[upper] canines ; six molars on each side above, and six belowf; the ears small. They are very 
nimble animals, and have been designated Fox-nosed Monkeys, from their pointed heads. They 
subsist on fruits. Their species are very numerous, and inhabit only the island of Madagascar, where 
they appear to replace the Monkey-tribe, which, it is said, do not exist there. They differ but slightly 
among themselves, except in colour. 
[Thirteen, at least, have been ascertained definitively ; one of the longest known of which is the Macaco of 
Butfon, or the Ring-tailed Lemur (L. eatta, Lin.), which is ash-grey, the tail annulated black and white. Others 
are black, or rufous, with sometimes white ; and one beautiful species, the Ruffed Lemur (L. macaco, Lin.), is 
* An approach to this deviation on the part of the inferior canine is I t The latter statement chances to be correct, but, as intended 
Fig. 4. — Hand and Foot of Lemur 
noticeable in the adult Mandrill. — E d. 
would have been erroneous, — E d. 
