TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 103 
polype. Medusoid dome-shaped, with the four radiating canals terminating below 
each in a large reddish bulb which sends off two very extensile filiform tentacula, 
having an ocellus at the base of each; manubrium extending to about a third of 
the entire depth of the umbrella, and with four short oral tentacula, The medu- 
soid is thus, in all points, undistinguishable from that of Perigonimus ramosus, Van 
Beneden. In a rock-pool, Torquay, where it occurred abundantly, creeping over 
the bottom in small moss-like tufts. 
Tubularia bellis (mihi). Basal portion of ccenosare prostrate, creeping, and 
sending up short, free, sparingly Jaeninhed stems, which rise to three-fourths of an inch 
or one inch in height; periderm, where it covers the lower part of the stems and the 
whole of the prostrate portion, marked by wide but distinct annulations; coenosare 
orange, deepening in tint towards the base, expanding into a collar immediately 
below the polypes. Polypes measuring, in full-sized specimens, about 5 lines 
from tip to tip of the extended tentacula; body of polype scarlet. Gonophores 
borne upon short erect branched peduncles, each gonophore with four well-marked 
tentaculoid tubercles on its summit; peduncles and spadix scarlet. A beautiful 
little zoophyte, conspicuous by the bright colour and large size of its polypes. It 
eo apa to the bottom of rock-pools at extreme low-water spring-tides, 
etland. 
Observations of the Habits of the Aye-aye living in the Gardens of the Zoolo- 
gical Society, Regent’s Park, London. By A. D. Bartiert, 
The subject of the following remarks is a fine adult female of the Aye-aye (Chi- 
romys madagascariensis), which arrived in this country on the 12th of August last. 
On the voyage this animal produced a young one, which lived about ten days. On 
arriving here she was in poor condition and very feeble ; she soon, however, began 
to feed freely, and has now considerable strength, as is shown by the timber destroyed 
in the cage in which she is kept. 
This animal is much blacker, and appears larger, than the male of this species 
now in the British Museum; the long hairs on the back of the neck, extending to 
the lower part of the body, have white points; these white points are thickest 
above, and become less numerous towards the limbs and tail, which appear quite 
black; the hairs of the tail, however, are white or grey at the roots (this can only 
be observed by separating them); the chin and throat are dirty white, which colour 
extends over the chest; the short hairs on the face are a mixture of dirty grey and 
white, the long hairs are black; the eye slight brown, surrounded by dark-coloured 
hairs; the nose and muzzle are of a dirty flesh-colour, the lips pink; the ears 
shining black and naked, but thickly studded with small protuberances; the feet 
and toes are sooty black, with the under surface and claws lighter, inclining to 
flesh-colour. The situation of the mammz is remarkable : they are two in number, 
and placed at the lowest part of the abdomen (the animal differing in this respect 
entirely from the Lemurs and Bats, the teats of which are on the breast). 
The Aye-aye sleeps during the day, and the body is then generally curved round 
and lying on its side; the tail is spread out and flattened over it, so that the head 
and body of the animal are almost entirely covered by the tail. 
It is only at night that the Aye-aye exhibits any activity. I hear her crawling 
about and gnawing the timber when, to me, all is perfectly dark; and I have been 
surprised to find that upon the introduction of a light, directed to the face of the 
animal, she does not exhibit any signs of uneasiness, but stretches out her arm and 
tries to touch the lamp with her long fingers. She frequently hangs by her hind 
legs, and in this position cleans and combs out her large tail, using the slender 
hook-like third finger with great rapidity, reminding one strongly of the movements 
of the large Bats (Pteropus). This skeleton-like finger is used with great address 
in cleaning her face and picking the corners of the eyes, nose, mouth, ears, and 
other parts of her body; during these operations the other fingers are frequently 
partially closed. 
In feeding, the left hand only is used, although she has the full use of her right 
one. The mode of taking her food requires careful attention, in consequence of 
the very rapid movement of the hand during the process, The fourth finger (which 
