T A B . XXXII.
L E M U R BICOLOR.
For the Generic CbaraBers of Lemur vide p. 25.
C H A R A C T E R SPECIFICUS.
Lemur caiidatus fufcus, fubtus albidlis, cauda nigra, unguibus acutis.
S P E C I F I C CHARACTER.
Long-taikd brown Lemur, whitith beneadi, widi black tall and fliarp claws.
MANY animals of this genus have roimded nails, like thofe of monkeys; others have fliarp
claws, as in die prefent fpecles, which Is one of the rareft of the genus, and Is an inhabitant of
the foutherri parts of America. In habit or general appearance It very ftrlklngly exhibits the
charafters of Its proper genus, though the claws give it, at firil view, fome appearance of a
Viverra. In faa there are not wanring a few fpecles In the genus Lemur which bear a very
ftrong refemblance to Viverra:. Amongft fuch fpecles may be reckoned the Yellow Macauco
of Mr. Pennant's Hlftory of Quadrupeds, which. In the firft edition of that work, called the
Synopfis of Ouadrupeds, is ranked under the genus Weefel (which, in Mr. Pennant's arrangement,
includes the two Linnsean genera of Viverra and Muftela). In quadrupeds of the fame
natural tribe there are fometimes certain agreements even in the dlfpofitlon of colour on the
different parts of the body, which, though not of importance fufficient to be taken into die
charaaers of the genus, are ftill fuch as frequently to enable an experienced zoologlft to give
a probable guefs at the genus of an animal, even though its more effential generic cliarafters
have not been examined into. This is the cafe in the genus Lemur; In which a peculiar roundnefs
and folnefs of the eye takes place, and a marked circle, of a deeper colour than the reft
of the face, is diffufed round the region of the orbits: there is alfo a peculiar call of vifage,
which, though not eafily defcrlbed in words, is very obvious in thefe animals. The prefent
fpecles is of a deep brownilh afli-colour on the upper part of the body, and of a dull yellowlfli
white below; and the divifion of the two colours along the fides is ftrongly marked, or without
intermediate gradation of fliade. The face Is of a deep brown; the ears black, and on the
forehead is a large heart-ihaped fpot or patch of yellowlfli white, with the bottom or point
reaching pretty deep on the nofe; this patch of white is continued on each fide behind the ears
till it joins with the white on the neck and fides: the tail is black, of a great length, and is
coated with fomewhat longer hair towards the end than in other parts, fo as to appear fuller
or larger towards the tip. The feet are white, and the claws blackifli brown.
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