224 
NATURAL HISTORY. 
very small, and are so placed that the canine teeth hide the outer ones ; besides this character there are 
four teats instead of two. 
M. Pollen, a well-known naturalist, says that the natives of the north-west of Madagascar call it 
the Bokomboule, and in Europe it has been named the Grey or Broad-nosed Lemur, the genus being 
called Hapalemur, and hence its proper name of Hapalemur griseus. The word Hapalemur means Gentle 
Lemur (from aira\6s, soft, gentle), and this appears to be their character. Hearing of their presence hi 
the bamboo forests, M. Pollen wished to go there to hunt them, but he was strongly urged not to do so 
on account of the fatigue of the sport, and the difficulties likely to arise from the spines, thorns, and 
THE WEASEL LEMUR. {After SchUycl and Pollen .) 
sharp leaves, which readily produce wounds. He went, and after being well scratched and cut about, 
he returned with some specimens. The Hapalemurs sleep during the whole of the day rolled up, with the 
back curved, and the head between the thighs, the tail being curled over the back; but they are not so 
sleepy that they cannot escape from the hunter who seeks them. Idle enough by day, they exhibit a 
wonderful agility and disposition to romp and play at night. Their cry is like the grunt of a little Pig, 
and the greater part of their nourishment is derived from bamboo- leaves. One, which was kept by 
M. Pollen in captivity, ate bananas, but would touch rice only when it was half starved, and it had the 
strange propensity so often observed in some tame Monkeys of biting its tail. 
The next group of the Lemuroids is that which has given the name to the whole sub-order. 
