THE AYE-AYES. jy 



gascai in 1780, and by him sent to Paris. The skin remained 

 unique in Europe for the best part of a century. Greatly owing 

 to the superstitious dread in which the creature is held by the 

 natives, it was for a long period, and is still, very difficult to 

 procure, or to induce the natives to capture, specimens. Mr. 

 Baron says that it is sometimes accidentally caught in traps by 

 the natives, " but the owner of the trap, unless one of those 

 versed in the Aye-Aye mysteries who know the charm by 

 which to counteract its evil power, smears fat over it, thus 

 securing its forgiveness and goodwill, and sets it free." In 

 1863 Dr. Sandwith sent a second example to Europe, the ana- 

 tomy of whose body was made the subject of an exhaustive 

 monograph by the late Sir Richard Owen. Since that date 

 more than one specimen has been received alive, and its habits 

 and constitution are now fairly well known. The Aye-Aye is 

 entirely arboreal and nocturnal, sleeping during the day, with 

 its body coiled round, lying on its side with its bushy tail spread 

 over it as a covering. It suspends itself by its hind-limbs, and 

 in this position it has been observed in captivity by Mr. Bart- 

 lett, using its hook-like finger to comb out its vail, to cleanse 

 its face, the corners of its eyes, its nose, mouth, and ears, keep- 

 ing meanwhile its other fingers closed. It lives in the depths 

 of the forests, going about in pairs. Exquisitely keen of hearing, 

 it can detect by sound the boring of insects within the dead 

 branches of trees. Its attenuated wire- like finger acts as a 

 probe to discover their position, and its powerful incisor teeth 

 are used to cut down upon the tunnel of its prey, which consists 

 principally of the Andraitra, the larva of a Beetle, which it then 

 extracts with the same digit. The juices of plants are also sup- 

 posed to form part of its food. It drinks after the manner 

 of many Monkeys, by dipping its fingers into the water, and 

 3— V. I c 



