THE SLOW LEMUR. 87 



It IS very slow in its motions, and^ from this cir- 

 cumstance, has actually been ranked by some Na- 

 turalists among the Sloths, though in no other res- 

 pect resembling them. It is a nocturnal animal, 

 and sleeps, or at least lies motionless, during the 

 greatest part of the day. In captivity it v.'ill feed on 

 boiled rice, small birds, or insects. Its odour is said 

 to be disagreeable. 



The late learned and accomplished Sir William 

 Jones has given a pleasing general description of 

 this little creature, in the fourth volume of the 

 Asiatic Researches ; and as it is always interesting 

 to observe the habits of an animal, even in a domes- 

 tic state, in its native country, I shall insert an ex- 

 tract from his curious paper. 



" In his manners he was for the most part gentle, 

 except in the cold season, v^hen his temper seemed 

 wholly changed ; and his Creator, who made him 

 so sensible of cold, to which he must often have 

 been exposed even in his native forests, gave him, 

 probably for that reason, his thick fur, wliich we 

 rar^ely see on animals in these tropical climates. To 

 me, who not only constantly fed him, but bathed 

 him twice a week in water accommodated to the 

 seasons, and whom he clearly distinguished from 

 others, he was at all times grateful ; but when I 

 disturbed him in winter he was usually indignant, 

 and seemed to reproacl^ me with the uneasiness 

 which he felt, though no pos-ible precautions had 

 been omitted to keep him in a proper degree of 

 warmth. At all times he was pleased with being 

 stroked on the head and throat, and frequently 



G4 



