MOUSE-LEMURS. 219 



and yellower beneath; indeed, scarcely any two individuals are alike in these 

 respects. 



The weasel -lemur, during its nocturnal rambles, is marvellously active, 

 and is capable of taking tremendous leaps among the trees in which it dwells ; 

 its slender build and long limbs being admirably adapted for such a mode 

 of progression. Like the gentle lemur, it subsists solely on leaves ; and it is much 

 sought after as an article of food by the natives of Madagascar, to wliom it is known 

 by the name of Fitili-ki. It is killed by being knocked on tlie head with a stick 

 while curled up dui-ing the day in its nest of leaves, to which it has been tracked 

 down at the end of its nocturnal excursions. 



Tlie hoary-lieaded lemur (X. caniceps) is a closely allied species, chiefly dis- 

 tinguished by having a miuute rudimentary pair of front or incisor teeth in the 

 upper jaw, but further characterised by the hoary grey of the hair on the crown 

 of the head- 



The Mouse-Lemurs. 



Genus Chirogale. 



With the tiny creatures known as tlie mouse-lemurs, we come to the first of 

 a group of two genera which differ from all the members of the lemur tribe in that 

 the bones of the upper part of the ankle arc enormously elongated, thus causing 

 the whole foot to be much longer than in the preceding groups. 



The mouse-lemurs themselves are confined to Madagascar ; and include the 

 smallest of the lemurs, some of them lieing even inferior in size to a rat. They 

 have long tails, and rather large ears, wliicli are haiiy at tlieir base, and cannot be 

 folded upon themselves. 



The most remarkable feature connected with the mouse-lemurs, and one for a 

 knowledge of which we are indebted to the observations of Grandidier, is that 

 they are in the habit of what is generally called hibernating, or remaining dormant 

 for a portion of the year. But as their quiescent season is during the hottest and 

 driest time, the term aestivation would be more appropriate. By no means all 

 the mouse-lemurs thus hibernate ; and we may fairly presume that the species in 

 which tliis habit occurs are those dwelling in the moi-e arid regions. To prepare for 

 this protracted period of dormant energies, during which they maintain the heat of 

 their bodies by the consumption of their own substance, the mouse-lemurs feed so 

 vigorously that when the hot season arrives they are in an extremely fat and sleek 

 condition. Curiously enough the great accumulation of fat wliich then takes place 

 is mainly restricted to the region of the base of the tail ; and when they retire at 

 the close of the rainy season, during which food is extremely abundant, their 

 tails are swollen to a prodigious size. The wasting process which goes on during 

 hibernation leaves them, however, with their tails shrunk to a very small diameter. 

 In order to make themselves comfortable during their long sleep, they follow the 

 example of our own dormice, and prepare snug little nests of twigs and other 

 substances ; some of their habitations being described as marvels of neat construction. 

 Their food is mainly of a vegetable nature ; although this chet is largely supple- 

 mented by insects, and even small birds are said not to come amiss. Having 



