gg THE SLOW LEMUR. 



suffered me to touch his extremely sharp teeth ; 

 but his temper was always quick, and when he was 

 unseasonably disturbed, he expressed a little resent- 

 ment, by an obscure murmur, like that of a Squir- 

 rel, or a greater degree of displeasure by a peevish 

 cry, especially in winter, when he was often as fierce, 

 on being much importuned, as any beast of the 

 woods. 



'* From half an hour after sun-rise to half an 

 "hour before sun-set, he slept without intermission, 

 rolled up like a Hedgehog ; and, as soon as he 

 awoke, he began to prepare himself for the labours 

 of his approaching day, licking and dressing him- 

 self like a Cat ; an operation which the flexibility 

 of his neck and limbs enabled him to perform very 

 completely : he was then ready for a slight break- 

 fast, after which he commonly took a short nap ; 

 but wlien the sun was quite set he recovered all his 

 vivacity. 



'^ His ordinary food was the sweet fruit of this 

 country ; plantains always, and mangoes during the 

 season ; but he refused peaches, and was not fond 

 of mulberries, or even of guaiavas : milk he lapped 

 eagerly, but was content with plain water. In ge- 

 neral he was not voracious, but never appeared satis*- 

 fied with Grasshoppers ; and passed the whole niglit, 

 while the hot season lasted, in prowling for them. 

 When a Grasshopper, or any insect, alighted with- 

 in his reach, his eyes, which he fixed on his prey, 

 glowed with uncommon fire ; and, having drawn 

 himself back to spring on it with greater force, he 

 seized the prey with both his fore-paws^, but held it 



