LORIS. 
229 
it takes the form of a transverse slit. The ears are short, rounded, and partly 
buried in the fur; and are, thus, very different from those of the galagos. The 
hind-limbs are only slightly longer than the others. With the exception of the 
muzzle and the hands and feet, the whole of the body is covered with a thick coat 
of very close and somewhat long woolly fur. 
There is a considerable amount of variation in the colour of different local 
races of this species, although in all cases there is a dark stripe running down the 
middle of the back, sometimes extending on to the head. In the more common and 
larger variety, the colour of the fur is ashy-grey above, tending to become silvery 
along the sides of the back, the under-parts being lighter, and the rump often 
having a tinge of red. The stripe on the back is chestnut-coloured, and stops short 
at the hinder part of the crown of the head. The eyes are, however, surrounded 
by dark rims; between which is the white streak extending upwards from the nose. 
The ears, together with a small surrounding area, are brown. 
In another, and generally smaller variety, the hue of the upper-parts has a 
distinct tinge of red mingling with the grey; while the stripe on the back is wider, 
and often of a full brown colour; but, instead of stopping short at the back of the 
crown of the head, this band widens out into a large brown patch on the crown, 
which embraces the ears. The eyes, however, although surrounded by brown 
rings, are not connected with the patch on the head by a dark-coloured area. 
There is yet a third variety of this creature, found in Tenasserim, in which the 
general colour is pale rufescent, while the dark stripe on the back, instead of 
expanding on the crown of the head, merely splits into a fork, of which each 
prong joins the dark ring round the eyes. 
The slow loris is found over a large area in the countries lying to the east¬ 
ward of the Bay of Bengal. It occurs on the north-east frontier of India in the 
provinces of Sylhet and Assam, whence it extends southwards into Burma, 
Tenasserim, and the Malay Peninsula; while it is also found in Siam and Cochin 
China, and the islands of Sumatra, Java, and Borneo. 
Its food consists of leaves and young shoots of trees, as well as 
Habits * 0 
fruits, various kinds of insects, birds, and their eggs. It has been 
observed to stand nearly erect upon its feet, and from this advantageous position 
pounce upon an insect. It is generally silent, although sometimes uttering a low 
crackling sound; but when enraged, and especially if about to bite, it gives a kind 
of tierce growl. Mr. Blanford, quoting from notes by Colonel Tickell, observes that 
this animal is tolerably common in the Tenasserim provinces and Arakan; but, being 
strictly nocturnal in its habits, is seldom seen. It inhabits the densest forests, and 
never by choice leaves the trees. Its movements are slow, but it climbs readily, 
and grasps with great tenacity. If placed on the ground, it can proceed, if 
frightened, in a wavering kind of trot, the limbs placed at right angles. It sleeps 
rolled up in a ball, its head and hands buried between its thighs, and wakes up at 
the dusk of evening; to commence its nocturnal rambles. The female bears but one 
young at a time. Many accounts have been published of the habits of the slow 
loris in confinement. One of the best of the earlier of these is from the pen of Sir 
William Jones, who had one of these animals as a pet in Calcutta. All observers 
are agreed that, while these creatures are apt to be fierce when first captured, 
