Spec.--Cheirogaleus COMMERSONII.
Seventh Genus. Lemur. Maki,Fr. Meer-kat, Dutch.
Incisors, 4 canines, 1-1 ; moNrs, = 36.
The six inferior incisors are compressed and directed forwards ; of the four superior ver tical incisors, the two middle are distant from each other; the canine teeth are very acumi nated ; the molars acurninated and alternating in each jaw. The ear not much developed. The tail long, bushy, and highly ornamented. The muzzle is very prominent, lengthened, and pointed ; for which reason the French call the Makis Singes d museau de renard. They Feed upon fruits, and inhabit chiefly Mada p.scar.
Spec. — Lemur catta L.macaco, L. ruber, L. nzongos, L. albifrons; L. nigrifrons, L. rufus, albimanus, L. cinereus.
The Leniur murinus, Maki nain ought to be ieparated from the other Lemurs. It seems t transition to Otolicnus.
Eighth Genus. Galeopithecus. Vliegende-kat, Dutch.
This genus has been considered by Cuvier xi belong to the Cheiroptera, but Temminck tnd De Blainville have perfectly well de monstrated that it is not a Vespertilio but a Lemur, and that it forms in this way a tran sition from the Lemurince to the Cheiroptera. The author of the article CHEIROPTERA in this Cyclopedia has adopted the same vievvs, and I agree with them, including the Galeo pithecus in my present paper. The Galeopi thecus, then is a Lemur, with the extremities connected b'y a bat-like membrane, or, in other words, surrounded by a thin skin, which they support as the framework 'of the umbrella sustains its covering. By this singular struc ture, the animal while jumping is suspended in the air, yet without the power, as the Bats, of a continued flight. The fingers of the hands are not longer than those of the feet, and pro vided in both with long and sharp incurvated claws. They dwell upon trees in the Indian Archipelago, and feed upon insects, and, per haps, little birds. They sleep, as the Bats,
suspended by their hind legs, with their head downwards. According to the observations of WATERHOUSE, their dentition is as follows : incisors, 2-2 ; canines, t--2; false molars, 4 1--1 2-2 true molars 4-4-34. The form of 2-2 4-4 these teeth is very strange. The anterior incisor of each side in the upper jaw is of a small size and compressed form, suddenly dilated above its insertion in the jaw, serrated at the edge, and presenting three or four nearly equal denticulations. The second in cisor on either side resembles the first false molar in form, and, like that, has two fangs. The first false.molar is compressed, of a tri ' angular form, and has the anterior and pos terior edges serrated. The second false molar is less compressed than the first, and divided into two nearly equal, acutely pointed, trian gular cusps ; the apex of the posterior cusp is directed inwards. The triangular grinding surface of each of the true molars consists of three pointed cusps. The molars of the lower jaw resemble those of the upper, ex cepting that the position of the three prin cipal cusps is reverted. The false molars are compressed and resemble, in general, their opponents of the upper jaw. The tooth, which represents the canine, is comparatively small, compressed, and considerably expanded at the apex, where it is serrated, having five or six denticulations. The incisors are almost horizontal in their position, compressed, nar row at the base, and suddenly expanded im mediately above the base ; each incisor is deeply festooned or subdivided by incisions into slender lamince. The incisors and false molars of the lower jaw are detached.
Spec.—Galeopithecus variegatus.