THE GALAGOS. II3 



The Galagos are strictly nocturnal animals, creatures whose sun is 

 the moon ; during the day they lie rolled up in a shady corner, and if 

 by chance they are prevented from finding a spot obscure enough, they 

 hide their head from the hated sunlight, and contract their ears to deaden 

 every sound. If violently awakened from their sleep they stare dreamily 

 about them, and exhibit signs of annf)yance at having been disturbed. As 

 soon as twilight spreads over the forest they rouse themselves, open their 

 eyes, unroll their huge ears, and leave their lurking-places. Their life is 

 that of a beast of prey with an insatiable thirst for blood, and a love for 

 slaughter unexampled in the Quadrumana. Endowed with eyes as sharp 

 as the lynx, ears as acute as the bat, with powers of scent like the fox, 

 and the agility of the monkey, they are persevering in their attacks, and 

 a terrible foe to smaller creatures. 



THE MOHOLI AND THE KOMBA. 



This species — Galago MoJioli, (or Otolicnus) — attains a length of eight 

 inches in the body and ten inches in the tail. Its short, thick, silky fur 

 is dull gray, with a faint tinge of red on the head and back ; the belly 

 and inside of the limbs is yellowish-white, and the same color appears on 

 the cheeks and a stripe running down between the eyes to the end of the 

 nose. It has been found in Senegal and eastward in Kordofan. The 

 natives call it Tendj, and say that it is an ape transformed to a lower 

 shape on account of its sleepiness. It is usually found in pairs, and lives 

 in the forests of mimosa. Startled by the traveler the creatures climb 

 quickly up the trees but do not take flight ; they remain there quietly 

 watching and listening. They make long springs from bough to bough 

 and seem not to regard the stiff" prickles of the tree. By night their eyes 

 gleam like burning coals. In captivity thev display great liveHness. 

 When they go to sleep the ears wrinkle and contract, and then the point 

 turns over and in, till the whole ear is almost invisible. They can con- 

 tract the face into strange grimaces like some of the apes. 



The Galago agisymbanus is somewhat larger, attaining a length of from 

 eight to twelve inches. The prevailing color is yellowish-gray, darker 

 on the muzzle and the hands, becoming a grayish-white on the chin and 

 cheeks. The tail, a brownish-red at the roots, is dark-brown at the tip. 



The natives of Senegal capture these animals by taking advantage 

 of their fondness of palm-wine; its sweetness attracts them, the spirit in 

 1.5 



