276 CHIROMYIDAE AND TARSIIDAE. 



The Aye Aye (Chiromys-madagascariensis), the only 

 representative of the family Chiromyidae, is the last of the 

 lemur-like animals, but it has teeth so different from the 

 Primates that it must be considered as belonging to the 

 Rodentia. This animal measures about three feet from 

 tip to tip, most of the length being in the bushy tail. The 

 claw corresponding to our middle finger is of great length 

 and slenderness, and is probably used to extract from 

 their burrows the larvae which is the principal article of 

 its diet. The Aye Aye is dark brown in c.olor on top, red- 

 dish on the under parts, and greyish yellow on the throat. 

 It is nocturnal, builds its nest in the upper branches of 

 trees, and gives birth to but one young at a time. The 

 natives of Madagascar have a superstitious fear of the 

 creature, and it is therefore hard to obtain, although it is 

 inoffensive and easily tamed. 



The Tarsier (Tarsius-spectrum) is another animal that 

 in many respects resembles the Lemurs, but is so different 

 in others that it is placed in a separate family the Tar- 

 siidae. It is arboreal and nocturnal in habit, about the 

 size of a small rat, and covered with a soft thick fur ; the 

 general color is a dark fawn, with a reddish face and fore- 

 head, and dark rings around the eyes. The tarsal bones 

 of the hind limbs are unusually long and the hand is also 

 noticeable for its length and the curious claws with which 

 it is provided. It has thirty-four teeth four more than 

 the Indri, and two more than the true Lemur. It feeds on 

 insects and small reptiles, never eating fruit. Its habitat 

 is in the Malayan Islands, where it is looked upon with 

 dread by the natives. 



