THE AYE- AYE. 153 



observed to turn its large and mobile ears towards 

 them ; then mounting on the boughs, it probed with 

 its middle finger a hole evidently excavated by a 

 grub ; finding, however, that it was beyond its 

 reach, the powerful incisive teeth came into play, 

 and, with their help, the hiding-place of a large 

 larva was soon laid open, the insect being devoured 

 with great relish. The teeth resemble greatly those 

 of a rat, or other gnawing animal, but with this 

 difference, being very narrow towards the point in 

 proportion to their great depth and solidity, though 

 they possess that external layer of enamel that, like 

 the plate of steel on an axe, always preserves them 

 sharp and ready for use. The molars, instead of 

 being composed of alternate ridges of bone and 

 enamel, are covered with a smooth coating of the 

 latter substance, their number being four in the 

 upper and three in the lower jaw. In all the quad- 

 rumana the teats are situated on the breast, whereas 

 in the aye-aye they are placed on the lower part of 

 the abdomen. Thus, by this peculiarity and by the 

 structure of its teeth, it differs widely from the 

 lemurs, which it otherwise resembles in the forma- 

 tion of the brain and fore-hands. After its first 

 discovery by Sonnerat, no specimen had reached 

 Europe for some time, and it was thought by some 

 authorities to have almost become extinct in its 

 native country. Since the death of the late queen, 



