12 NATURAL HISTORY ESSAYS 



often been reproduced in scientific works ; not so 

 well known in all probability are the excellent series 

 of anatomical drawings made from dissections of 

 the ample material — nine specimens — obtained by 

 the expedition. On his return to England, Sir 

 Andrew brought home a male specimen (in which 

 the eyes were not encircled by rings), and this 

 example is now in the National Collection. 



The gradual spread of civilisation since 1836 

 has considerably increased our knowledge of the 

 bush baby, since its haunts — many of them in 

 Smith's day situated in " the far interior" — have 

 now been largely invaded by colonists, both Boer 

 and Briton. The bush baby is purely arboreal 

 and nocturnal, sleeping through the hours of 

 daylight with head tucked in between the forelegs, 

 and its long tail wrapped round : at night it 

 becomes very active, calling loudly at sunset, and 

 industriously searching for insects and fruit on 

 which to feed. Galagoes are remarkable for their 

 nocturnal activity, being able to clear several feet 

 at a bound, and clinging to any object against which 

 they may impinge with a sudden and surprising 

 tenacity resembling that of a tree frog alighting 

 on a branch. These lemuroids really appear to be 

 capable of exerting some suction action with their 

 digits. Mr. Murray's captive Galago deinidoffion 

 one occasion easily adhered to a cylindrical glass 

 shade, though unable to embrace even a third of 



