22 LEMURS. 



When I offered food to these lemurs they had 

 a curious way of obtaining it when not quite within 

 their reach. The little black hand was stretched 

 out and took a firm but very gentle grasp of my 

 fingers, drawing them nearer until the coveted 

 fruit could be reached, and even if the banana 

 could have been taken direct they preferred to hold 

 my hand, and did it so prettily that I was tempted 

 always to make them reach out for it. 



Considering the ghost-like character associated 

 with these animals, we thought that "Spectre" and 

 " Phantom " would be appropriate names ; they do 

 not, however, respond to any endearing epithets, 

 and only manifest emotion when a banana is 

 offered for their acceptance. 



I fancy they are somewhat unintelligent ; they 

 differ greatly from the ordinary type of monkey, in 

 that they sit still by the hour together, and have no 

 idea of mischief or of helping themselves in any 

 way ; for instance, a monkey, if feeling cold, will 

 accept a shawl and wrap it round him, finding the 

 comfort of it ; but these creatures would sit and 

 shiver and die of cold before the idea of covering 

 themselves would enter their dull brains. 



