114 [October, 1841. 



much less distinct than at the time of the death of the animal ; 

 throat, abdomen, and under surface of extremities and tail, whitish ; 

 the spot upon the shoulder and lateral vitta are dirty white. 



Dimensions. Length of head, one inch (Fr.) : greatest breadth 

 six lines; height seven lines; length of neck two lines; of body 

 two inches eight lines ; of tail four inches seven lines ; of anterior 

 extremities two inches ; of posterior one inch. (These measure- 

 ments were taken after the specimen had been long immersed in 

 spirits.) 



Habits. The animal arrived in this city from New York on the 

 12th of June, 1840. During the first three days its appetite was 

 good, spending the greater part of the time in catching flies by 

 means of its long extensible tongue, which on one or two oocasions 

 it was observed to protrude to the extent of nine inches. The 

 motions of the animal were very sluggish, passing almost the whole 

 of the day upon the perch of the cage in which it was kept, turning 

 the eyes in every direction in search of flies, which were no sooner 

 within reach than the tongue was protruded with the rapidity of 

 lightning, and the insect rapidly drawn into the mouth. In the three 

 or four following days, which were rainy and cold for the season, 

 her appetite appeared to have failed ; during this time she was not 

 seen to catch a fly, although many were quite near, but she often 

 descended from the perch to drink; notwithstanding her indisposi- 

 tion to eat, she would watch for hours the motions of the flies about 

 the cage, the eyes preserving their accustomed brilliancy of ex- 

 pression. On being placed upon a plane surface, she walked with 

 more care, and often with more rapidity than might have been ex- 

 pected from the pincer-like arrangement of the feet and bands, 

 the fingers and toes being fully extended; but the usual manner of 

 progression and general appearance of the animal when in motion, 

 corresponded with the description of those given by Valisnieri. 

 During the time that she was laying her eggs, she did not eat, nor 

 had she taken food for several days previous ; she became greatly 

 emaciated, and died almost immediately after their expulsion from 

 the body. 



Habitat. Liberia, in Western Africa. 



