THE AYE-AYES. 15 
naked, and studded with small protuberances; tail longer 
than the body, bushy, with hair 3-4 inches long; hind-limbs 
longer than the fore-limbs, the thigh-bone being one third 
longer than the humerus, the hand the longest segment of 
the fore-limb ; fingers long—the fourth the longest—with com- 
pressed and pointed claws, which are proportionately much 
longer than the toes; the middle or third digit slender and 
very remarkable, being extremely attenuated and wire-like ; 
thumb opposable, and placed at an acute angle to the short 
index ;»great toe opposable, set at an open angle to the other 
digits, its nail flat ; the remaining’toes with pointed compressed 
claws (like the second toe of Lemuride and second and third 
of Zarstide). ‘Teats, two, placed low down on the abdomen. 
Length of body and tail together 36 inches. Skull highly 
arched, convex transversely; muzzle short and deep; bony 
palate not extending behind the middle of the posterior molar 
tooth ; lower jaw with condyle elongated from before backwards 
and on a level with the cheek-teeth, its two halves united at an 
acute angle by elastic tissue, allowing each half to play inde- 
pendently of the other. Its dental formula, I+, C$, P}, M2=18. 
Incisors very large, curved, with persistent pulp, and enamel only 
in front, growing up as fast as worn away ; canines absent (the 
last two characters as in the Rodents) ; long vacuity between 
canines and pre-molar ; pre-molar much smaller than molars ; 
molars with flat crowns and very indistinct tubercules; milk- 
teeth agreeing more in number and form with those seen 
among Lemurs than with the permanent set ; the upper jaw 
having its full set of two incisors, one canine, and a pre- 
molar tooth present; the lower jaw having one incisor, no canine, 
and one pre-molar tooth on each side. Dorsal and lumbar ver- 
tebree together 18, sacral 3, and caudal 22-27. 
