1 6 Lloyd's natural hisiory. 



Olfactorylobes of brain covered by the cerebrum; convolutions 

 and grooves of cerebrum similar to those in normal Lemurs. 

 Intestine 26 inches long; no striped tissue in the muscular 

 sheath of the gullet at the anterior end of the stomach. Di- 

 gastric muscle (for moving the jaws) very much developed in 

 accordance with the great gnawing powers of the species. 



Fur on back, flanks, tail, and limbs dark brown, nearly black, 

 but with the white of the basal half of the hairs shining through ; 

 hair woolly at base ; long hairs on top of head and back of neck 

 tipped with white ; short hairs of face dirty white. Nose 

 and lips naked, flesh-coloured ; ears black ; sides of head and 

 throat greyish-yellow ; chest often bright yellow, the chin paler. 

 Inner sides of limbs yellowish-white, and on the under surface 

 of the body the basal part of hairs showing through, producing 

 a pale yellowish-whitCj or sub-rufous, colour. Feet and digits 

 black. Tail black, at its base greyish-white or greyish-brown, 

 and often with long white hairs throughout. The species is 

 more nearly related to the members of the genus Galago to be 

 described later on, than to any other of the Lemnroidea. 



Distribution. — The Aye-Aye is confined to the island of Mada- 

 gascar. It makes its home in the dense parts of the great forest 

 that runs along the eastern border of its central plateau, but 

 only in that part of it which separates the Sihanaka Province 

 from that of the Betsimisaraka, which is about 25 miles from 

 the east coast, in latitude 17° 22' S. It is more common than 

 has been supposed, its noctural habits and the superstitious 

 awe with which it is regarded accounting for its apparent rarity, 

 and for the contradictory reports given of its habits. 



Habits. — The Aye-Aye, whose name is derived from its call of 

 " hai-hay," is one of the most singular of living animals. It 

 was first discovered by Sonnerat during his travels in Mada- 



