LORIS

loris, a name of uncertain origin applied to the indo-malay representatives of the lemurs, which, together with the african pottos, constitute the section _nycticebinae_ of the family _nycticebidae_ (see primates). from their extremely slow movements and lethargic habits in the daytime these weird little creatures are commonly called sloths by anglo-indians. their soft fur, huge staring eyes, rudimentary tails and imperfectly developed index-fingers render lorises easy of recognition. the smallest is the slender loris (_loris gracilis_) of the forests of madras and ceylon, a creature smaller than a squirrel. it is of such exceeding strangeness and beauty that it might have been thought it would be protected by the natives; but they hold it alive before a fire till its beautiful eyes burst in order to afford a supposed remedy for ophthalmia! the mainland and cingalese animals form distinct races. both in this species and the slow loris there is a pair of rudimentary abdominal teats in addition to the normal pectoral pair. the slow loris (_nycticebus tardigradus_) is a heavier built and larger animal, ranging from eastern bengal to cochin china, siam, the malay peninsula, java and sumatra. there are several races, mostly grey in colour, but the sumatran _n. t. hilleri_ is reddish. (r. l.*)