544 
MAMMALIA. 
Certain authors have preserved this designation, and classify the 
Makis under the term Lemuridse. 
The family of Makis comprises five tribes, some of which 
are divided into a certain number of genera : these are the Makis 
properly so called, the Indris, the Tarsius, the Galagos, and the 
Loris. 
Genus Mahi , or Macacos. — These animals are, of all the 
Lemuridse, those whose heads are the most tapering ; and there- 
fore it is to them that the denomination of Fox-headed Monkeys 
is applicable. BufFon called them False-Monkeys. They stand 
somewhat high on their feet, and take rank, for size, between the 
Marten and the Fox. Their pelage is soft and thick, and their 
tail long and bushy. They live in forests, and feed chiefly on 
fruits. Their movements are light and graceful ; their voice is a 
low or a loud growl, according to the nature of their emotions. 
The female has only one at a birth, and testifies the greatest 
tenderness for it, keeping it concealed beneath her body, buried in 
her thick fur, until the period when its hair, having acquired a 
sufficient length, may efficaciously protect it against external 
vicissitudes. It is suckled for six months, after which it is left to 
its own resources. 
These animals are sociable, and often collect into numerous 
bands. They select almost inaccessible places to sleep in ; are 
readily tamed, and even reproduce in captivity. Frederic Cuvier 
studied one which, although very sensitive to cold, had thriven 
during nineteen years’ sojourn in France. During winter it drew 
so near the fire as to singe its moustaches, and held its hands 
up before its face like a human being. 
Modern naturalists reckon no fewer than fifteen species of 
Makis ; we will only mention the best known. These are : the 
Buffled Lemur, whose fur is varied with white and black spots ; 
the Bing- tailed Lemur (Fig. 236), easily recognisable by its 
tail being marked with alternate white rings ; the Brown 
Lemur, grey above, and white beneath, and the nude parts 
of the extremities of a brown colour ; the Bed Lemur, very 
remarkable for the brilliancy of its colours, — the body is almost 
entirely of a fine red, the muzzle, hands, breast, belly, and tail 
are black, on the neck is a large white patch, and bracelets, 
also white, on the wrists of the posterior members ; the White- 
