THE LEMURS. 33 



species, most of which belong to Madagascar, others to Africa, 

 Asia, and the Indian Archipelago ; the Tarsidce, which hail from 

 Sumatra and Borneo; and the Chiromyidce, of which the aye- 

 aye is the representative. The Lcmuridce are divided into 

 four sub-families by Professor Mivart. I, the Indri ; II, the 

 true Lemurs; III, the slow Lemurs and IV, the Galagos. 

 The lemur is nocturnal in its habits and noiseless in its 

 movements. Some of its species much resemble the cat in 

 appearance though its four hands unmistakably demonstrate 

 its order. Sir William Jones describes a Slow Lemur (Nycticebus 

 tardtgradtis), which he had in his possession, as "gentle ex- 

 cept in the cold season, when his temper seemed wholly 

 changed." This animal expressed great resentment when 

 disturbed unseasonably. From half an hour after sunrise to 

 half an hour before sunset he slept without any intermission, 

 rolled up like a hedgehog: and as soon as he awoke he 

 began to prepare himself for the occupations of his approach- 

 ing day, licking and dressing himself like a cat an operation 

 which the flexibility of his neck and limbs enabled him to 

 perform very completely. He was then ready for a slight 

 breakfast, after which he commonly took a short nap; but 

 when the sun was quite set he recovered all his vivacity. 

 " Generally he was not voracious, but of grasshoppers he never 

 could have enough; and passed the whole night during the 

 hot season in prowling for them. He used all his paws 

 indifferently as hands." Mrs. Bowdich tells of one of these 

 animals, procured by Mr. Baird at Prince of Wales Island, 

 who shared a cage with a dog to whom he became greatly 

 attached, while nothing could reconcile him to a cat, which 

 constantly jumped over his back, causing him great annoyance. 



The Tarsier. The tarsier (Tarsius spectrum) is a small, kitten- 

 faced animal with long hind legs, which enable it to leap 

 like a frog. It is nocturnal in habit, and is found in Sumatra, 

 Borneo, and elsewhere. 



The Aye-Aye. The aye-aye (Chiromys madagascariensis) is 



3 



