232 
NATURAL HISTORY. 
or fifth finger. The fourth finger is slightly the longest, and its tip, as well as those of the other 
fingers, is furnished with a well-marked pad, which gives a roundness and fulness to the last joint, or 
phalanx. The fleshy pads of the palm and fingers are also numerous, and the largest occupies the 
position on the palm of the ball of the thumb in man, whilst in front of this there is a pad space on 
the palm close below the first joint of the index finger. A smaller pad is placed behind the roots of 
the third and fourth fingers, and there is a pad at the root of the fifth digit. Two long pads are 
seen behind this last on the outer margin of the palm, which converge towards the great pad of 
the base of the thumb. These six pads of the palm form an ellipsis around the centre of the hand, 
and are of paramount importance in preventing the jar of jumping. 
The under part of the foot of the Black Lemur is at first sight very much like a hard palm, with a great 
thumb, for the great toe is large and thumb-like. The four other toes are finger-like, and are very slightly 
HEAD OF T1IE BLACK LEMl’U. (After Mitiie.) 
larger than the fingers of the hand ; and the sole, although narrow and rather elongate, resembles a 
palm somewhat. The second toe is small ; and although it has a small pad beneath its tip, a. distinct 
and sharp nail projects from the last phalanx. All the other toes have large pads beneath their tips, 
and assume more or less of a rounded shape at the ends. The great toe’s pad is large and almost 
circular in outline. There is a large pad at the base of the great toe, which is almost divided into 
two by a furrow, and each of the remaining toes has a small pad at its junction with the sole, and 
there is one along the outer border. All these tactile pads with cushions of fat on the palm and 
sole act admirably as buffers, and prevent injury to the joints of the bones, as the Lemur terminates 
its leap by bringing its extremities in sudden contact with boughs or small trees. Moreover, they 
enable the animal to distinguish substances by their very sensitive surface. By being placed at the 
base of the fingers and toes on the palm or sole, and by being separate and along the edge of 
elliptical spaces, the movement of the fingers and toes still retains their independence. Moreover, 
the existence of a central spot between the pads favours the movements of the palm and sole, and 
assists in the opposable nature of the thumb and first toe. The pads on the under part of the 
ends of the fingers and toes appear not only to act as cushions, but to enable the Lemur to distin- 
guish the nature of the substances with which they come in contact. They are therefore sensitive, 
and may be termed extraordinary organs of touch. A circlet of very long hairs projects and radiates 
round the ears of this Lemur, and gives the animal a very peculiar appearance. 
