Lemurs. 31 



and they delight in taking long flying leaps, 

 pitching with the utmost lightness, and never by 

 any chance missing their hold ; in this way they 

 will, for example, leap on to the top of an open 

 door, and from that on to a distant chair. 



When in good health they are extremely playful, 

 at which times, as Dr. Brookes said, they " use a 

 sort of galloping with their tails raised over their 

 backs/' pouncing about with extended arms in a 

 peculiarly ludicrous manner. They form affections 

 for, and are fond of playing with, not only human 

 beings, but also other animals ; for example, one 

 which the writer had in his possession for some 

 time was on the most affectionate terms with a 

 wire-haired fox terrier and a cat, both of which 

 animals reciprocated its affection, and were never 

 more happy than when playing with it or lying 

 together curled up with it in a basket before the 

 fire, where it would, with the greatest care, wash 

 the dog's coat, at the same time combing out any 

 knots in the hair with its teeth ; a performance 

 which seemed to afford the greatest possible 

 gratification to both animals. This habit of 

 licking and cleaning is one of the lemurs' 

 peculiarities, as not only do they keep themselves 

 scrupulously clean and attend to the coats of other 

 animals with which they may be friendly, but 

 they also show the greatest interest in the clean- 

 liness of their human companions ; as, for example, 

 if a finger stained with ink be presented to them, 

 they will lick it and scrape it with their teeth in a 



