180 



ABERRANT LEMURID^E. CHEIROMYS. 



that we are to regard its presence as an adaptive character only ; 

 and that we are to be guided, in determining the place of this 

 species, by its essential characters (J 25), which, as regards the 

 conformation of its teeth and extremities, are those of the Lemurs, 

 more than of any other group. 



164. As the Galeopithecus leads us towards the Bats, so does 

 another curious modification of the Lemur type conduct us 

 towards the Rodentia; in which order it has been placed by 

 Cuvier and other eminent Zoologists. This is the Cheiromys, or 

 Aye- Aye, a native of Madagascar ; an animal, which is very rare 

 even in its native country, and of which only one specimen has 

 been brought to Europe. In its general conformation it is strictly 



Lemurine, though having much of 

 the aspect of a Squirrel. The bones 

 of the fore-arm are movable on one 

 another, which is not the case with 

 those of the Rodentia ; and the ex- 

 tremities have five fingers, of which 

 the first is separated from the rest, 

 and shorter, so as clearly to repre- 

 sent the thumb, although it is not 

 opposable; the first toe is armed 

 with a straight-pointed claw, as in 

 the Lemurs. Its habits, too, are 

 those of the Lemurs ; during the 

 day it conceals itself in some hollow, 

 and passes its time in sleep ; but at 

 night it issues forth in search of its 

 food, which consists of buds and 

 fruit, with insects and larvse, like that of the Lemurs in general. 

 It was remarked upon two specimens kept in captivity, that 

 they never set up their long bushy tail in the manner of a 

 Squirrel; but always kept it trailing at length. It is in the 

 conformation of the teeth, that the chief relationship to the 

 Rodentia is shown. Each jaw contains only two front teeth, 

 which are very large and strong, flattened at the sides, and very 

 deep from back to front ; their roots extend backwards along 



FIG. 84 AYE-AYE. 



