CLASS I. MAMMALIA: ORDER 2. QUADRUMANA. 121 



and the Mongous, L. mongoz, are well-known species. The latter is one of those most fre- 

 quently brought to Europe. The other species are the L. Anjuanensis, L. coronatus, and L. 

 chrijsampix. 



Besides these there are the Little Gray Maki of Buffon, L. griseus, and the Lepilemur mus- 

 telinus, both resembling the true lemurs, but probably constituting a distinct genus. 



Genus CTIEIROGALE. — These animals have round heads, like the cats, the snout short, the 

 lips garnished with mustaches, the ears small and oval, the eyes large, staring, and close together. 

 The tail is long and thickly furred, and is frequently carried coiled round the body of the animal. 



The Dwarf Maki of Cuvier, Cheirogaleus Milii, is the smallest of the genus, the body being 

 only a foot long, and the tail of equal length. The color is a yellowish gray. A specimen in the 

 Garden of Plants kept himself in a nest of hay — which he made for himself, from materials furnished 

 by the keepers — during the day, and at night he went forth and displayed great activity until the 

 morning. His big eyes were much distressed by the light of a lamp or candle. His food consisted 

 of fruits, bread, and biscuit. 



The other species are the C.furcifer, and the Little Macauco, C. murinus. 



CHEIROMYS. 



Genus CHEIROMYS. — Of this genus a single species only is known, the Aye-aye, C. Mada- 

 gascariensis, which has excited much curiosity by its singular formation and habits. A specimen 

 was obtained by the French naturalist Sonnerat at Madagascar, and from his account our knowl- 

 edge on the subject is mostly obtained. He says the animal is found chiefly, if not exclusively, on 

 the western part of the island, and resembles alike the maki, the squirrel, and the ape. Its large 

 and flat ears are like those of a bat ; its principal peculiarity of structure is the middle toe or 

 finger of the fore-foot, the two last joints of which are very long, slender, and denuded of hair. 

 This member is useful to it in drawing worms out of holes in the trees, and it seems also to be of 

 service in holding on to the branches of trees. It appears to be a subterranean animal, and does 

 not see during the day ; its eye resembles in color that of the owl. It is very slothful, but good- 

 tempered, remaining generally at rest, and requiring a good deal of shaking to make it move. Its 

 body is about a foot long. The subject of Sonnerat's observations he kept two months upon no 

 )ther nourishment than cooked rice, and it fed itself with its two fingers, like the Chinese with 

 their chopsticks. It never carried its tail elevated like the squirrel ; it always hung dragging bc- 

 iind. The animal is rare, and seems to be regarded with a kind of superstition by the natives. 



Genus GALEOPITHECUS.— The animals of this genus resemble the lemurs and the bats, 

 laving the general form of the first, and some of the qualities of the last, They have been called 

 Mying-lemurs, Flying-cats, and Fhjhig-foxes. They are found in the islands of Java, Sumatra, 

 lind Borneo, and live on trees, feeding on fruits, insects, and small birds. Swainson, speaking of 



Vol. I.— 16 



