1879.] MR. G. A. SHAW ON THE HABITS OF LEMURS. 135 



tail, whicli unfortunately still continues, I presume, had it been in its 

 native forest, it would under the same circumstances have slept 

 through the winter. It makes a nest of leaves or dry grass, by care- 

 fully scooping a hollow big enough to contain itself, and then, after 

 getting in, covering itself with the loose leaves or grass. The native 

 tradition also confirms my opinion with regard to its hibernation. 

 They say that it hides in the hollow trees in the winter. 



It appears to be a very uncommon animal, even in Madagascar, as 

 this is the only specimen I have been able to obtain, although I kept 

 a man in the forest for two months seeking for one after I had ob- 

 tained this one. Of course, the fact of their sleeping all day and only 

 feeding at night adds to ihe difficulty of catching them. 



It was easily tamed, and proved very affectionate ; comes when 

 called by name, and enjoys being fondled and rubbed. 



4. The Dwarf LEMUR^ 



This is another species of nocturnal animal, and is the most 

 diminutive Lemur with which I have become acquainted. They 

 inhabit a belt of forest-land stretching from the eastern forest into 

 the heart of Betsileo, a few miles north of Fianarantsoa, where they 

 are tolerably abundant. They live on the tops of the highest trees, 

 choosing invariably the smallest branches, where they collect a 

 quantity of dried leaves, and make what from below looks like a 

 bird's nest. So close is the resemblance, that it requires good eyes 

 to distinguish the one from the other. 



Their food consists of fruit and insects and most probably honey. 

 I have frequently seen them catching the flies that have entered 

 their cage fur the honey ; and I have supplied them with moths and 

 butterflies, which they have devoured with avidity. 



They are extremely shy and wild. Although I have had between 

 thirty and forty caged at different times, I have never succeeded in 

 taming one. 'i'hey are also very quarrelsome, and tight very fiercely, 

 uttering a most piercing penetrating sound, somewhat resembling 

 a very shrill whistle. 



The teeth are very minute, but exceedingly sharp ; and when they 

 bite they hold so tenaciously that it requires a good shake and 

 knock to make them let go. These Lemurs can leap better than 

 No. 3 : but still their usual mode of progression is on all fours ; and 

 when running up any branches which they can grasp with their 

 hands, they are very nimble indeed, very much more so than when 

 on the ground. They are very strong in their hind legs and hands. 

 I have often seen them swing themselves down from their perch 

 holding by the hind hands, grasp their food in the two fore hands, 

 and then gradually draw themselves back again into their former 

 position on the perch. In this they are assisted by the tail only as 

 a balance and not as an additional grasping-member. And although 

 the tail is of considerable assistance when stretching out from one 

 branch to another, by being partly twisted round the branch, it is 

 certainly not prehensile in the same sense as some monkeys' tails are. 

 ^ [Microcebiis miithii (Gray).— -P. L. S.] 



