I40 ON THE LORIS, 



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 j but, when I disturbed him in win- 

 ter, he was usually indignant, and seemed to reproach 

 me with the uneasiness which he felt, though no pos- 

 sible 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 suffered me to touch his extremely sharp 

 teeth ; but at all times his temper was quick, and, 

 when he was unseasonably disturbed, he expressed a lit- 

 tle resentment by an obscure murmur, like that of a 

 squirrel, or a greater degree of displeasure by a peev- 

 ish 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 sunrise to half an hour before 

 sunset, he slept without intermission, rolled up like a 

 hedge-hog ; and as soon as he awoke, he began to 

 prepare himself for the labours of his approaching day, 

 licking and dressing himself like a cat : an opera- 

 tion which the flexibility of his neck and limbs ena- 

 bled him to perform very completely ; he was then 

 ready for a slight breakfast, after which he commonly 

 took a short nap ; but when the sun was quite set, he 

 recovered all his vivacity. His ordinary food was the 

 sweet fruit of his country ; plantains always, and 

 mangos during the season ; but he refused peaches, 

 and was not fond of mulberries, or even of guaiavas j 

 milk he lapped eagerly, but was contented with plain 



water. 



