4 
ON THE LEMURID.^: OR, 
fying ghosts or spirits), was applied originally to the Slow-paced Loris, in 
reference to its nocturnal habits, and has since been extended to the whole of 
the family, of which it is the type. 
The hemuridcB are distinguished as a natural group, by the following cha¬ 
racters:—The body is long and slender, the head is pointed, and somewhat Fox¬ 
like, the nostrils have a sinuous opening, terminating a sharp naked muzzle, some¬ 
what prominent; the eyes are large, and of a nocturnal character. The ears in 
some are small, and more or less concealed in the fur, in others large, membra¬ 
nous, and naked. The limbs are long, especially the posterior pair, which usually 
exceed the anterior.—The fore hands have a true thumb, and the index finger is 
often abbreviated. The feet or hind hands have a large thumb, greatly expanded at 
the tip; the index finger ( of the hind hand) is slender, and armed with a long, 
subulate, and somewhat curved, claw. The nails of the other fingers, like those 
of the forehands, are flat and rounded. The body is covered with full, soft, woolly 
fur. The tail varies, being wanting or reduced to a mere tubercle in some, while in 
others it is long, and more or less bushy, but not prehensile.—On looking at the 
skull, which bears a very distinct resemblance to that of the Monkey, we find the 
orbits obliquely lateral, surrounded with a perfect margin, but opening within into 
the temporal fossa, which latter is not the case in Monkeys, the internal walls of the 
orbit being complete, as in man. The occipital foramen has a posterior situation, 
as in the Dog, so that the head is in no degree balanced upon the spinal column, 
but depends from it altogether. The upper incisors, four in number, are placed 
literally in pairs, with an intermediate space in front, in which are received, to a 
certain degree, the points of the incisors of the lower jaw. These are six in 
number, laterally compressed, arranged side by side closely together, not in a 
vertical position, but projecting obliquely forwards, and converging to a point. In 
some species the two outermost incisors of the upper jaw are very small, and 
often lost, so that naturalists have regarded their number in such species to be 
but two ; whereas it is in reality four. The canines are long, recurved, and com¬ 
pressed wfith a posterior cutting edge, and a sharp point. The false molars are 
pointed; the true molars are crowned with sharp conical tubercles, and interlock 
with each other,—reminding us very strongly of those of the Insectivora. In 
conformity with this dentition, the Lemiiridce feed upon a mixed diet of animal 
and vegetable substances. They are, however, as a whole, more frugivorous 
than carnivorous, giving preference to fruits, roots, and the like. Eggs, insects, 
and small birds, are pursued by the slow, cautious horis with great perseverance; 
but if we may judge from specimens in captivity, the true Lemurs (Makis or 
Macaucos) seldom make living animals their prey. Their bite is severe. 
The Lemuridoe are all arboreal; they tenant the depths of the forest, and 
sleep during the day; the twilight of evening or the obscurity of night, while 
