THE ENDRINAS. 109 



natives exclaimed, "Indry izy!" ("There he is!"). Dr. A. 

 Vinson says that, in passing through the great Eastern forest, 

 he was assailed for two days by the incessant clamour of these 

 Lemurs, which seem to keep together in large companies, but 

 are invisible in the dense foliage. The natives have a super- 

 stitious veneration for these animals, and consider them as 

 sacred. They believe that their ancestors change after death 

 into Babakhto^ and that the trees where these animals live 

 supply infallible remedies against otherwise incurable diseases. 

 The people say that it is very dangerous to kill these Lemurs 

 with spears, because if a spear is hurled against one of them it 

 seizes the spear in its flight without being itself hurt, and in its 

 turn stabs with certain aim those attacking it. They also relate 

 that when the female has borne a young one, she takes the 

 little creature in her arms and tosses it to her mate, who is 

 seated on a neighbouring tree, and that he throws it back to 

 the female. If the little one does not fall to the ground after 

 being subjected to this exercise for a dozen times, the parents 

 bring it up with the greatest care ; but, if the contrary event 

 happens, they abandon it, not even troubling to pick it up. 

 In certain parts of Madagascar, says M. Pollen, the people 

 employ the Babakoto in chasing birds, and they say that it 

 renders as good service as a Dog. These animals, although 

 principally fruit-eaters, do not disdain small birds, which they 

 catch with much skill, in order to eat their brains. 



This Lemuroid is probably the best known to travellers in 

 Madagascar, at least by ear, as no one can travel along the 

 most frequented route in the island, that from Tamatave to Anta- 

 nanarivo, without often hearing the cries of these animals as he 

 passes through the great forest. They are not often seen, but 

 their long drawn-out melancholy cries are frequently heard, a 



