_Mixocebus caniceps_, Peters, M. B. Akad. Berlin, 1874, p. 690, pl. i.,
pl. ii. (Skull.)
CHARACTERS.--Snout sharp, with a naked nose-pad; eyes very large; ears very
short, rounded, higher than broad, scarcely appearing beyond the fur, and
sparsely covered with short hair; limbs long, the digits with unkeeled
nails; tail as long as the body, or slightly longer; inter-maxillary bones
more prominent than in the species of the next genus, and containing a
small incisor tooth on each side; no inter-parietal bone; upper canine not
vertically longer than the grinders; the upper pre-molar and molar series
of teeth arranged to converge but slightly anteriorly, forming, as seen
from the front, a somewhat convex line, differing in this from some species
of _Lepidolemur_, in which these teeth are arranged in a nearly straight
line.
Top of head grey, the base of the hairs Mouse-grey, with black or white
tips; a triangular patch on the middle of the head, darker; band on the
sides and middle of the nose dark brown, widening out on the forehead and
over the eyes; a dark ring round the eyes, merging into the dark brown
colour of the nose; front border of the ears, a patch behind the latter,
the lips, chin, sides of cheek, and chest a creamy- or yellowish-white;
throat grey; upper side of the body, outside of the limbs, and dorsal end
of the tail, rufous-grey; back portion of {79}the upper part of the thigh,
the hinder part of the belly, and the greater part of the upper side of the
tail yellowish-rufous; the upper side of hands dark brown, of the feet
yellowish-grey; extremity of tail blackish-brown. Length of body, 12½
inches; tail, 13½ inches.
DISTRIBUTION.--Confined to Madagascar.
HABITS.--The habits of the Hattock, as the natives name this animal, are
quite unknown.