A Hand-book to the Primates, Volume 1 (of 2)Forbes, Henry O. (Henry Ogg)
Science
A Hand-book to the Primates, Volume 1 (of 2)
Forbes, Henry O. (Henry Ogg)
Primates
CHARACTERS.--Body slender; head broad and sub-globular; nose high and
pointed; ears large, bare, and with narrow rounded tips; hind-limbs longer
than the fore-; tail with longer hair at tip. Fur very thick and soft on
body and tail. Upper side pinkish-grey, or faded white with a slight wash
of pink; back, sides of body, and outer surface of limbs pearly to
yellowish-white; sometimes a dark ring round the eyes; a streak down the
nose white or yellowish-white; ears flesh-coloured, sprinkled with pure
white down; head, face, whole of under sides and inner sides of limbs
white, yellowish, or whitish-buff; tail yellowish or reddish brown, darker
at tip, lighter beneath; upper surface of hands and feet white, washed with
yellow. Length of body, 7-8½ inches; tail of about the same length. The
male and female are of the same size and of the same colour, but the male
is somewhat more washed with yellow. Muzzle shorter than the diameter of
the eye-socket; the bony palate not extending past the hinder end of the
median molar. Anterior and median upper molars slightly larger than the
posterior pre-molar; the latter as well as the two anterior molars with a
small cusp between the two front cusps.
DISTRIBUTION.--This beautiful little Lemur was first recorded from Senegal,
in West Africa. It occurs, however, from about 25° S. lat. in South Africa
northwards to Tete on the Zambesi, through the mountainous regions of East
Africa, on the shores of Lake Nyasa, to as far north as Senaar.
PLATE IV.
[Illustration: ALLEN'S GALAGO.]
{43}HABITS.--The Senegal Galago is nocturnal and arboreal, occurring in the
forests singly or in pairs. It makes a nest of leaves in the fork of a
tree, and during its diurnal rest it either retreats thither, or composes
itself on a branch, unwilling to move, and staring at passers-by, with its
tail invariably folded across its body and round its neck. After sunset,
these Galagos become lively, and in their movements they evince great
activity; they spring from branch to branch, and even from tree to tree,
with extraordinary facility (as both Sir Andrew Smith and Sir John Kirk
have recorded), often clearing at single leaps distances of six feet. When
seen in the dim light they may easily be taken for Bats. "They always seize
with one of their fore feet the branch upon which they intend to rest. In
their manners they manifest considerable resemblance to Monkeys,
particularly in their propensity to the practice of ridiculous grimaces."
(_Sir A. Smith._) In this habit they resemble also some species of the
genus Lemur. Their food consists chiefly of fruits and of insects. The
female produces generally two young at a birth.
III. ALLEN'S GALAGO. GALAGO ALLENI.
_Galago allenii_, Waterh., P. Z. S., 1837, p. 87; Sclater, P. Z. S.,
1863, p. 375, pl. xxxii.
_Galago allenii_, var. _gabonensis_, Gray, P. Z. S., 1863, p. 146.
_Galago gabonensis_, Mivart, P. Z. S., 1864, p. 630.
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