. The popular natural history . Zoology. THE SLENDER LOR IS. 39. RUFFLED LEMUR.—[Lemur Macaco.) their stealthy noiseless step, which renders their progress almost as inaudible as that of the unearthly beings from whom they derive their name. The Ruffed Lemur is one of the handsomest of this family, challenging a rivalship even with the Ring-tailed Lemur in point of a'ppearance. The texture of the fur is extremely fine, and its colour presents bold con- trasts between pure white and jetty- blackness. The face of the Ruffed Lemur is black, and a fringe of long white hairs stands out like a ruff
. The popular natural history . Zoology. THE SLENDER LOR IS. 39. RUFFLED LEMUR.—[Lemur Macaco.) their stealthy noiseless step, which renders their progress almost as inaudible as that of the unearthly beings from whom they derive their name. The Ruffed Lemur is one of the handsomest of this family, challenging a rivalship even with the Ring-tailed Lemur in point of a'ppearance. The texture of the fur is extremely fine, and its colour presents bold con- trasts between pure white and jetty- blackness. The face of the Ruffed Lemur is black, and a fringe of long white hairs stands out like a ruff round the face. As is the case with all the Lemurs, it is a native of Madagascar and of the ad- jacent islands, and seems to take the place of the ordin- ary monkeys. Of all the Lemurs this species is the largest, its size equalling that of a moderately grown cat. Its voice is a sepulchral, deep roar, peculiarly loud, considering the size of the animal, and can be heard at a great distance in the stilly night. The Slender Loris is a small animal, measuring only nine inches in length, and possessed of limbs so delicately slender as to have earned for it its popular name. Its colour is grey, with a slight rusty tinge, the under portions of the body fading into white. Round the eyes, the fur takes a darker hue, which is well contrasted by a white streak running along tlie nose. Small though it be, and apparently without the power to harm, it is a terrible enemy to the birds and in- sects on which it feeds, and which it captures "like Fabius, by ; Night, when the birds are rest- ing with their heads snugly sheltered by their soft feathers, is the time when the Loris awakes from its daily slumbers, and stealthily sets forth on its search. Its movements are so slow and silent, that not a sound falls on the ear to indicate the presence of a living animal. Alas for the doomed bird that has attracted the fiery eyes of the Loris ! With movements as imperceptible and as
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjectzoology, bookyear1884
