THE AYE-AYES. 1 5 



nalced, and studded with small protuberances; tall longer 

 than the body, bushy, with hair 3-4 inches long ; hind-limbs 

 longer than the fore-limbs, the thigh-bone being one third 

 longer than the humerus, the hand the longest segment of 

 the fore-limb ; fingers long — the fourth the longest — with com- 

 pressed and pointed claws, which are proportionately much 

 longer than the toes ; the middle or third digit slender and 

 very remarkable, being extremely attenuated and wire-hke; 

 thumb opposable, and placed at an acute angle to the short 

 index ; great toe opposable, set at an open angle to the other 

 digits, its nail flat ; the remaining toes with pointed compressed 

 claws (like the second toe of Lemuridoe. and second and third 

 of Tarsiidce). Teats, two, placed low down on the abdomen. 

 Length of body and tail together 36 inches. Skull highly 

 arched, convex transversely; muzzle short and deep; bony 

 palate not extending behind the middle of the posterior molar 

 tooth ; lower jaw with condyle elongated from before backwards 

 and on a level with the cheek-teeth, its two halves united at an 

 acute angle by elastic tissue, allowing each half to play inde- 

 pendently of the other. Its dental formula, I}, C^, Pi M| = 18. 

 Incisors very large, curved, with persistent pulp, and enamel only 

 in front, growing up as fast as worn away ; canines absent (the 

 last two characters as in the Rodents) ; long vacuity between 

 canines and pre-molar ; pre-molar much smaller than molars ; 

 molars with flat crowns and very indistinct tubercules ; milk- 

 teeth agreeing more in number and form with those se.n 

 among Lemurs than with the permanent set ; the upper jaw 

 having its full set of two incisors, one canine, and a pre- 

 molar tooth present; the lower jaw having one incisor, no canii e, 

 and one pre-molar tooth on each side. Dorsal and lumbar ver- 

 tebrae together 18, sacral 3, and caudal 22-27. 



