MAMMALIA. 
47 
Chiromys Madagascarensis —The Aye Aye. 
Plate V. fig. 9. 
Fur pale rusty brown, mixed with black and gray; on the 
head the rusty brown prevails, blacker on the back and limbs; 
tail black; sides of the head, neck, lower jaw, and belly grayish : 
head shaped like that of a squirrel. About eighteen inches long. 
Inhabits Madagascar. 
ORDER III. — CARNASSIERS. 
The Carnassiers have three kinds of teeth; grinders more or 
less of a carnivorous character. The articulation of the lower 
jaw transverse, for the purpose of vertical motion. The orbits 
are not separated from the temporal fossae. The thumb of the 
anterior extremities never opposable to the other toes. Stomach 
simple, membranaceous: intestines short. 
Some of the animals eat vegetable substances, but never 
grass or leaves. 
This order is divided into four families; namely, 1. Chei¬ 
roptera, 2. Insectivora, 3. Carnivora, and Marsupiata. 
Family I. — Cheiroptera. 
Fingers connected by a membrane, which spreads from the 
anterior to the posterior extremities : fitting the animals for 
flight. Incisory teeth variable in number; canine teeth more or 
less strong; grinders, in general, having acute-pointed crowns, 
with a longitudinal furrow ; clavicles very strong, scapulae large ; 
fore-arms not capable of rotatory motion : two pectoral mammae. 
Tribe I.— Galeopitheci. 
Fingers furnished with long, much crooked nails; dental 
formulae anomalous. Skin of the membranes covered with hair 
on both sides. 
