THE AYE-AYES. By 
gascai in 1780, and by him sent to Paris. The skin remained 
unique in Europe for the best part of a century. Greatly owing 
to the superstitious dread in which the creature is held by the 
natives, it was for a long period, and is still, very difficult to 
procure, or to induce the natives to capture, specimens. Mr. 
Baron says that it is sometimes accidentally caught in traps by 
the natives, ‘‘ but the owner of the trap, unless one of those 
versed in the Aye-Aye mysteries who know the charm by 
which to counteract its evil power, smears fat over it, thus 
securing its forgiveness and goodwill, and sets it free.” In 
1863 Dr. Sandwith sent a second example to Europe, the ana- 
tomy of whose body was made the subject of an exhaustive 
monograph by the late Sir Richard Owen. Since that date 
more than one specimen has been received alive, and its habits 
and constitution are now fairly well known. The Aye-Aye is 
entirely arboreal and nocturnal, sleeping during the day, with 
its body coiled round, lying on its side with its bushy tail spread 
over it as a covering. It suspends itself by its hindlimbs, and 
in this position it has been observed in captivity by Mr. Bart- 
lett, using its hook-like finger to comb out its tail, to cleanse 
its face, the corners of its eyes, its nose, mouth, and ears, keep- 
ing meanwhile its other fingers closed. It lives in the depths 
of the forests, going about in pairs. Exquisitely keen of hearing, 
it can detect by sound the boring of insects within the dead 
branches of trees. Its attenuated wire-like finger acts as a 
probe to discover their position, and its powerful incisor teeth 
are used to cut down upon the tunnel of its prey, which consists 
principally of the Andraitra, the larva of a Beetle, which it then 
extracts with the same digit. The juices of plants are also sup- 
posed to form part of its food. It drinks after the manner 
of many Monkeys, by dipping its fingers into the water, and 
3—V. I c 
