36 TOMMY AND PEARLIE. 



they were provided with elastic pads somewhat 

 like a fly's foot with its suckers, and then reading 

 about this particular species I learned that it 

 inhabits a rocky tableland without trees, so that 

 it is not arboreal in its habits, but is formed with 

 leather-like palms to its hands to enable it to keep 

 a firm footing on wet and slippery rocks, where it is 

 not possible for human beings, although barefooted, 

 to follow it. When he is brought into a sitting- 

 room it is very needful to have a leading-string 

 attached to Pearlie's waistband, else he darts away 

 and is at the top of a picture frame out of reach 

 in a moment. His agility is only second to that 

 of the Gibbon the wonderful spider-like monkey 

 one may sometimes see at the Zoological Gardens 

 performing marvels of agility in swinging, by 

 means of his attenuated arms and legs. 



During the summer months my lemurs much 

 enjoy being in the open air, and on fine days they 

 are tethered on the lawn, where they amuse my 

 visitors with their graceful frolics. The entire 

 absence of odour, their cleanly habits, and their 

 delicate tastes as to diet render these animals 

 especially desirable as pets ; they enjoy fruit of all 



