THE AYE-AYE. 155 



being moved rapidly during the process of feeding, 



Mr. Bartlett's opinion on the subject being that the 



animal feeds rather on trees secreting a saccharine 



sap than on insects, forming cavities in the wood 



with its powerful incisors, and drinking the 



collected liquid. Still much remains to be learnt 



concerning this singular being, the conduct of Dr. 



Sandwith's specimen as mentioned above being 



tolerably clear evidence that it at least occasionally 



feeds on insects. Sometimes the aye-aye will hang 



suspended by the hind claws, using the middle 



finger for the purpose of cleaning the fur, especially 



that on the tail, the finger being passed through the 



long hairs with great quickness, removing every 



extraneous substance that may happen to adhere to 



them. When asleep the tail is wrapped round the 



body, which it almost completely covers. One day 



last summer I remained in the Gardens till dusk, 



waiting for the aye-aye to show itself, as I wished 



to learn something more of its habits than could 



be observed during the day-time, when it always 



manifests a strong disclination to face the light. 



About nine o'clock, the animal protruded its head, 



and presently emerged from the box. After sitting 



on its hinder feet and scratching its ears and face 



with the hand-like extremities of the fore-limbs, it 



proceeded to discuss the contents of a saucer of 



