Chapter I: The Ruffed Lemur. Lemur Varius

_Lemur macaco_, _var._ Schreber, Säugeth., p. 142, pl. 40 B (1775).

_Lemur macaco et L. ruber_, Geoffr., Ann. Mus., xix., p. 159 (1812).

_Lemur varius_, Is. Geoffr., Cat. Méth. Primates, p. 71, no. 2 (1851);
Schl., Mus. Pays. Bas., vii., p. 301 (1876); Milne-Edwards et Grandid.,
H. N. Madag., Mamm., Atlas, pls. 123-129 (1690).

(_Plate VII._)

CHARACTERS.--Face and top of head black; a stripe over the eyes, ridge of nose and tip of nostrils, creamy-white; a patch on the shoulder, the inside of the fore-legs, the inner surface of body, a patch on the front of the thighs, the inner side of the limbs, and the feet, black; tail black, washed with white on the upper surface; rest of body creamy-white.

PLATE VII.

{69}The Ruffed or Variable Lemur derives its name from the remarkable variability of its external markings: so much is this the case, indeed, that not a few of them have been described as distinct species. This variability appears to be entirely individual, and is by no means constant. The Black-mantled variety has the back of the neck, the shoulders and interscapular region entirely black. Another form has the ears, the ruff, and a bar across the muzzle extending over and in front of the eyes, joining the ruff, pure white; the fore-arms, legs, a bar across the buttocks joining the thighs greyish-white; face, legs, and tail black; a ring encircling the body like a belt between the fore- and hind-limbs, yellowish-white; rest of body dark reddish-brown. A third variety has the ears, ruff, and outer side of the arms and legs pure white; the flanks rusty-red, the rest of the body black.

THE RED-RUFFED LEMUR (_L. ruber_) is a very well-marked variety of the same species, and may easily be recognised by the ears, ruff and whole upper surface of body being dark rusty-red, with the outer surface of thighs and legs white; or, the ears, ruff and whole upper surface (except a white patch on the back of the neck) may be dark brown, with a white garter on each ankle; otherwise it may be entirely black. It is this variety which we have figured on Plate VII.

DISTRIBUTION.--Throughout the north-east of Madagascar.

HABITS.--The Ruffed Lemur, called by the natives "Varikossi," has a loud, harsh and powerful voice, which can be heard for a long distance.