ORDER QUADRUMANA. 
189 
FAMILY III. PROSIMIA.— MAKIS. 
SYNONYMS. 
Le3 Makis Cuv. Reg. Anim. I. 106. 
Lemuii Linn. Gmel. 1. 41. 
PftOsiMiA Briss. Reg. Anim. p. 220 Prosimii (Affer) et Macrotarsi (Langfiissef) — IlHg. Prodr. p. 73. 
CHARACTERS OF THE FAMILY. 
General Form approaching to that of the Quadrupeds. 
Claws always on the first finger of the hinder hands, and sometimes also on the second finger. Nails flat on all the other fingers, and on the 
thumbs. 
The Makis, according to Linnmus, comprise all those Quadruman- 
ous animals, which have their incisors either more or less than four 
in number, or at least otherwise directed than in the Apes or Mon- 
keys. This negative character cannot fail to include animals dif- 
fering rather considerably in their characters, while it does not even 
unite all that ought to be comprised in one division. M. Geoffroy 
has, however, established in this family several divisions, which are 
more distinctly characterized. 
These animals have their four thumbs well developed and oppos- 
able, and the first finger of the hinder hands is always armed with a 
pointed and elevated claw ; all the other fingers are [usually] covered 
with flat nails. The fur is woolly, and their teeth begin to exhibit 
sharp tubercles, locking into each other, as we find in the insectivo- 
rous quadrupeds. 
GENUS I. LEMUR.— LEMURS. 
Syn. I.ES Makis proprement dits — Cuv. Reg. Anim. I. 107. 
Lemur. — Geoff. Ann. Mus. XIX. 158. 
GENERIC CHARACTERS. 
The Head long and triangular. The Nostrils terminal. The Eyes 
medium size. The Ears short and hairy. 
The Dental Formula ' 
2-l-C-f-(3 F-f-3)M_18_ 
3+G+(2 F-|-3)M 18' 
:36. 
The Tarsus shorter than the tibia. The Tail longer than the body, 
and covered with thick hair. 
The Mammjs two. Habits diurnal. 
The First Finger only of the hinder hand with a claw. 
Inhabit Madagascar and adjacent Islands. 
The Lemurs, or Proper Makis, have six incisors below, com- 
pressed, and sloping forwards, but only four above, placed straight, 
and the first incisors being separated from each other. The canines 
are trenchant ; and there are six molars on each side above and six 
below. 
These animals are very active, and have been termed Fox-nosed 
Monkeys (Singes A museau de Renard), on account of their pointed 
faces. Their ears are not very large. The species of Lemurs are 
numerous ; they live on fruits, and inhabit the Island of Madagascar, 
'vhere they appear to occupy the place of the Monkeys, whieh, it is 
feported, are not to bo found in that island. They dift'er from each 
other chiefly in their colours. 
To these characters a few general remarks may be added. Their lower 
mcisive teeth differ remarkably from those of the Monkeys both in form 
and position, being very long and slender, but directed horizontally, and 
not vertically, as usual. Tlie first incisor of the lower jaw is of a different 
shape from those placed more internally, and is also larger ; a fact the 
more important as, according to some authors, tliis last incisor should be 
regarded as the true canine, and the next would thus be the first molar. 
According to tliis view, many of the Lemurian animals would have pre- 
cisely the same dental formula as the American Monkeys, and the ano- 
maly wliicli presents itself in tliese genera would be explained, die su- 
perior canine being placed anterior to tile lower one, an arrangement 
^hicli is but seldom seen. Be this as it may, tlie so-called inferior canine 
‘s small, triangular, and very like a false molar. There are three true 
Wolars ill each jaw. 
The limbs of the Lemurs, especially tlie hinder ones, arc long, and tiie 
thumbs are widely separated from tlie fingers, so that they are excellent 
•nstruments for grasping. No use has yet been discovered for the remark- 
able claw on the index toe. The tail is longer than the body, and con- 
tributes to tlie gracefulness of the animal. The general form of the Le- 
murs is slender ; and their head being long and their snout projecting, 
tliey have certainly some resemblance to tlie Fox. Their fur is generally 
woolly, very bushy, and abundant ; their ears are short and clothed ; their 
nostrils terminal and sinous ; and their eyes are placed not anteriorly, as 
in Man, nor laterally, as in most animals, but in an intermediate position. 
Tlie mammsD, two in number, are pectoral. 
As tlieir organization tlius approximates them to the Apes, so also do 
tlieir habits. Tliey live upon trees, and vault with agility. M. F. Cuvier 
tells us of one which would spring to a branch ten feet from the ground, 
while its gait was at the same time constrained. They are not so petulant 
and impudent as the Monkeys, especially tliose of the Old World ; and 
tliey never advance upon a stranger with tlireatening gestures and gri- 
maces, or attempt to seize or bite iiard. Tliougli their manners have 
scarcely been at all studied in tlieir native country, — Madagascar and the 
neigliboiiring isles, — ^yet, being often domesticated in Europe, we are by 
no means strangers to their dispositions. Many curious traits will be 
found in the accounts of the species; and we may here subjoin a few of 
the original remarks of M. F. Cuvier. He thinks, that however inoffen- 
sive and timid, tliey are not remarkable for their intelligence ; and though 
frequently tamed, tliey but rarely form strong attacliments. They are 
partly nocturnal, .and spend much of the day rolled up in the form of a 
hall. They feed tliemseives wilh their hands, and, notwithstanding the 
length of their snout, drink by suction ; when at ease, their cry is a feeble 
grunt, but wlien alarmed, it becomes deep and strong, and as they sing 
out in concert, the noise becomes insupportable. The different species 
fight furiously among themselves, biting savagely, and tearing off each 
other's hair with their hands. Two pair, M. Cuvier remarks, “which I 
possessed, could never regard eacli otlier willi complacency. If I raised 
the partition wliicli separated tliem, they were roused to fury, uttering 
acute, interrupted, and rapid cries. Unless the wires of the cage had 
separated them, they would certainly have injured each otlier; and the 
females were not more amicable than tlie males." These animals were fed 
witli boiled roots and fruits, bread and milk, and they were preserved at 
a uniform and warm temperature. Provided tliey were kept clean, they 
enjoyed excellent liealtli ; tliey seemed less annoyed with their captivity, 
and the inclemency of the climate, than the Apes. The history of an 
individual, as afterwards detailed, was traced for nineteen years. 
1. LEMUR CATTA RING-TAILED LEMUR. "" 
Syn. Le Mococo Cuv. Reg. Anim. I. 107. 
Lemur Catta. — Linn. Grael. I. 43. — Geoff. .4nn. Mus. XIX. 162. — 
Desm. Mam. 98. 
Ring-tailed Lemur. — Shaw, Gen. Zool. I. — Ring-tailed Maucauco. 
—Penn. Quadr. I. No. 150. 
Icon. Le Mococo. — Audeb. Sing. — Mfinag. du Mus. — Buff. Hist. Nat. XIII. 
pi. 22. 
Mococo mule. — F. Cuv. et Geoff. Hist. Mam. 
Maucauco. — Edw. Birds, pi. 197. — Copied in Sclircb. pi. 41. 
SPECIFIC CHARACTERS. 
The Hair grey, reddish above, whitish beneatli ; on the tail annulated 
with black. 
Tliis Ring-tailed Lemur is the one of all others with which we are 
most familiar in Europe, and is remarkable for tlie beauty of its fur, the 
elegance of its form, and its familiarity. It is fourteen inches long 
from tlie snout to the origin of the tail. All the upper parts of its body 
are of a beautiful grey colour, wliicli lias a rosy hue on the back and 
slioulders ; the summit of the licad, and back of the neck, are black ; as 
arc the margin of the eyes and tlie snout ; all tlie otlier parts of the body 
are white ; and the tail is ringed throughout, alternately black and white. 
