MICROCEBUS 105 



I have examined probably all the specimens of this species, under 

 the various names given to it, and in its various styles of coloration, 

 contained in all the great Museums of the world, save that in St. 

 Petersburg, and I can find no character by which the examples called 

 murinus, pusillus, smithi, minor, and others given in the above synop- 

 tical list, can be separated or distinguished the one from the other. 

 Specimens vary greatly in their coloration even among those belonging 

 to the two phases gray or rufous brown, and there is also an individual 

 variation to be seen among the skulls. Various types are extant, such as 

 smithi Gray, and the specimen that probably served as the type of 

 minor Gray, both in the British Museum; and of gliroides Grandidier 

 in the Paris Museum, and all belong to one or the other phase of the 

 animal called by Miller murinus. It would seem that the confusion in 

 synonomy, and the perplexity arising as to what name examples of this 

 little creature should bear, has been caused by recognizing forms as 

 distinct that really are not, and the difficulty of obtaining a uniformity 

 of opinion among Mammalogists is emphasized by the fact that the 

 specimens in different collections exactly similar, bear separate names. 



Mr. Shaw, (1. c.) says that this Lemur inhabits a belt of forestland 

 extending from the eastern forest into the heart of Betsileo Province 

 a few miles north of Fianarantsoa, where the species is fairly abundant. 

 It lives in the tops of the highest trees, and makes a nest of dried leaves 

 closely resembling that of a bird. The food consists of fruits and 

 insects, and Mr. Shaw frequently saw those he had in captivity catch 

 the flies that entered their cage for the honey which was placed there. 

 They were fond of moths and butterflies and ate them greedily. They 

 were very shy and wild, and he never succeeded in taming one. Even 

 among themselves they were quarrelsome and fought fiercely, uttering 

 at the same time a cry like a shrill whistle. The teeth though minute 

 are sharp, and they grip so firmly with them it is difficult to make them 

 loosen their hold. They can leap, but they usually go on all fours, and 

 they are very nimble among the branches. They have much strength 

 in the hands and legs, and they would often hang by the feet head 

 downwards, grasp food in the hands and then draw themselves up- 

 wards to their former position on their perch. During this movement 

 the tail served as a balance, but was not used for holding on by, for it 

 is in no sense prehensile. The eyes were large and brilliant, and the 

 hands beautifully perfect, with ordinary sized finger nails; the second 

 toe nail, however, being long and claw-like. 



