_Potto_, Bosman, Beschrijving van de Guinese Goudkust, ii., p. 32, fig. 4
(1704).
_Nycticebus potto_, Geoffr., Ann. Mus., xix., p. 165 (1812); Schlegel,
Mus. Pays Bas vii., p. 287 (1876).
_Perodicticus geoffroyi_, Bennett, P. Z. S., 1830, p. 109.
_Perodicticus potto_, V. der Hoeven, Tijdschr. v. Natuurl. Gesch., xi.,
p. 41 (1844); Wagner, in Schreber's Säugeth. Suppl., v., p. 183 (1855).
_Stenops potto_, Pel, Bijdragen tot de Dierkunde, 1852, p. 41.
CHARACTERS.--More common than the Angwantibo and {29}distinguished from it
by its rounder, shorter, and wider head, less produced muzzle, smaller
mouth, and eyes farther apart; ears shorter, rounder, and directed more
backwards, with one lamella on the inner surface. Hands longer, flat and
thin; index-finger not so reduced as in _P. calabarensis_. Tail very short,
little more than an inch long, but visible beyond the fur. Length of body,
8 inches.
Upper pre-molars less canine-like than in the preceding species; posterior
upper molar differing in size from and set farther out than the others,
short and wide, with the crown elliptical and only two-cusped, the two
hind-cusps wanting. Lower incisors more prominent and projecting than in
_P. calabarensis_; crown of posterior lower molar four-cusped.
ADULT.--Upper surface rich reddish-brown with a black dorsal stripe
widening opposite the shoulders, and fading out towards the tail; under
side yellowish or reddish-white. Hair on face shorter and paler, with a
dark ring round the eyes.
YOUNG.--Reddish-brown all over, redder on the back of the head and neck,
darker on the shoulders; creamy-white, washed with rufous, beneath.
Fur silver-grey at the base of the hairs, with reddish-brown tips in
younger, and dark golden-brown in older, individuals.
DISTRIBUTION.--The Potto is one of the oldest known members of the Lemuroid
group, having been described in 1704 by Bosman, who met with it on his
voyage to Guinea. It was, however, lost sight of until 1825, when it was
rediscovered in Sierra Leone and fully described by Bennett in 1830. It is
known also from Gaboon.
HABITS.--Both species of Potto are nocturnal and arboreal, and are
exceedingly slow in their movements. In catching {30}insects or flies,
which form part of their food, they proceed with extraordinary
deliberation, never quickening their movements, and yet rarely, if ever,
missing their prey.
Bosman in his description of the Gold Coast of Guinea, gives a woodcut of
the Potto, which, he says, is a "Draught of a Creature, by the _Negroes_
called _Potto_, but known to us by the Name of Sluggard, doubtless from its
lazy, sluggish Nature; a whole day being little enough for it to advance
ten Steps forward.
"Some Writers affirm, that when this Creature has climbed upon a Tree, he
doth not leave it until he hath eaten up not only the Fruit, but the leaves
intirely; and then descends fat and in very good case in order to get up
into another Tree; but before his slow pace can compass this, he becomes as
poor and lean as 'tis possible to imagine: And if the trees be high, or the
way anything distant, and he meets with nothing on his journey, he
inevitably dies of Hunger, betwixt one tree and the other. Thus 'tis
represented by others, but I will not undertake for the Truth of it; though
the _Negroes_ are apt to believe something like it.
"This is such a horrible ugly Creature that I don't believe anything
besides so very disagreeable is to be found on the whole Earth; the Print
is a very lively Description of it: Its Fore-feet are very like Hands, the
Head strangely disproportionately large; that from whence this Print was
taken was of a pale Mouse colour: but it was then very young, and his Skin
yet smooth, but when old, as I saw one at _Elmina_ in the year 1699, 'tis
red and covered with a sort of Hair as thick set as Flocks of Wool. I know
nothing more of this Animal, than that 'tis impossible to look on him
without Horrour, and that he hath nothing very particular but his odious
Ugliness."
{31}THE SLENDER LORIS. GENUS LORIS.
_Loris_, Geoffr., Mag. Encycl., Ann. 2, i., p. 48 (1796).
_Stenops_, Illiger, Prodr., p. 73 (1811).
As this genus contains only a solitary species, its characters are
necessarily those of the species.