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Show 596 DU. J. E. GRAY ON A NEW LEMUR. [May 23, It seems therefore, from what has been above stated, to be manifest that the mighty Amazons, though it may in some cases, as shown by Mr. Wallace and as noted above, separate allied species, does not constitute the true southern boundary of the Guianan avifauna, which is so remarkably distinct from that of the wood-region of Southeastern Brazil. To arrive at this boundary we must proceed further southwards nearly to the banks of the River Parnaiba, where the Amazonian wood-region terminates, and the high open country which forms the campos of Inner Brazil debouches upon the Atlantic. It is obvious that the wood-inhabiting species which form so large a proportion of tbe neotropical avifauna could never pass a barrier ot this character, which offers as complete a physical obstacle to their passage as would a tract of sea of similar extent. "We can therefore fully agree with the conclusions corresponding to those arrived at by- Mr. Bates in his elaborate " Memoir on the Diurnal Lepidoptera of the Amazon-valley"*, namely: - (1) That the Para district belongs to the same zoological province as the Guianas, and has received its bird-population mainly from that quarter. ( 2) That in certain cases (amounting to about 17 per cent, of the whole number of species after excluding those of general distribution) variation has taken place, which has resulted in the production of new specific forms of greater or less degrees of distinctness. (3) That in some of these cases the River Amazons has operated as a physical barrier, and has isolated these derivative forms from their Guianan allies, thereby leading to an accumulation of variations, which have ultimately resulted in the specific differences now observable. 2. Note on a N e w Species or Variety of L e m u r in the Society's Gardens. By Dr. J. E . G R A Y , F.R.S., V . P . Z . S V & C . ' (Plate XXXI.) PROSIMIA FLAVIFRONS, sp. nov. Fur soft, silky, bright pale red brown; hinder part of the back rather darker. Nose and feet dark red brown. Circumference or the face, side of the chin, the throat, and chest pale reddish yellow. Iris of eyes grey. Male. Hab. Madagascar; Zoological Society's Gardens, M a y 15, 1867. This is one of the Lemurs which differs from the other described species only in a variation in the shade and disposition of the colours. "Whether these are varieties or distinct species must be left to be decided by those who can study them in their native haunts. The one here described is a full-grown male. The end of the tail in the Jiving specimen is imperfect. * Trans. Entom. Soc. n. s. vol. v. pp. 223, 335. |