474 
THE STORY OF THE LEMUR . 
found to the northward of the tropic of Cancer; while the tropic of Capricorn 
very nearly limits their southward range. Within this area a few species are 
found respectively throughout the warmer regions of Africa, and in 
Southern India and Ceylon, while their eastern limits are marked by the 
island of Celebes and the Philippines. In all these regions the number of 
species is comparatively few, and they form but an unimportant element in 
the general animal family of the country. The case is, however, very dif¬ 
ferent in the great island of Madagascar, which is the headquarters of the 
whole group. Here we find them constituting no less than one-half the 
animals of the island, most of the others being small forms, unknown either 
on the continent of Africa or in Asia. The true lemurs occur only in Mada¬ 
gascar, and it is very remarkable that all the species of the group found in 
that island scarcely show any closer relationship to those of the African 
mainland than they exhibit to those of Asia. So abundant, indeed, are 
lemurs in Madagascar that at least one individual is almost sure to be found 
in every little copse throughout the island. 
It will be evident that such a numerous population of helpless animals 
like lemurs could not exist in a land overrun with large flesh-eating animals; 
and in the whole of Madagascar we find only a few civets and an allied 
creature known as the fossa. Now to account for these peculiar features— 
the absence of all large flesh-eaters, except civets, and the abundance of 
lemurs—we have to call in the aid of the geologist. He will tell us that 
lemur-like animals, accompanied by civet-like animals, existed in England, 
France, and other parts of Europe during the early part of the Tertiary 
period. And we are accordingly led to conclude that the lemurs and civets 
of Madagascar obtained an entrance into that island, doubtless by way 
of Africa, at a time when that continent was still free from the presence of 
the large flesh-eating animals and the host of hoofed creatures, which now 
form such a dominant feature in its animal population. After the lemurs 
and civets had obtained an entrance into Madagascar that country became 
separated from the adjacent mainland, and it has remained as an island ever 
since. There, secure from molestation, the lemurs have attained a develop¬ 
ment unequalled at any time in any part of the globe, and afford us an 
admirable instance of the importance a group of animals may attain when 
living under favorable conditions. 
We have already said that many lemurs are essentially nocturnal crea¬ 
tures. To this we may add that they are all of essentially tree frequenting in 
their habits. Indeed, except when compelled to descend to the ground to 
