CHAP. V. NOTICES OF THE AYE-AYE. 143 



people took a piece of stick, and just guided its head towards 

 the long grass and bushes, saying, " Go you away, go." They 

 seem to regard with a sort of superstition, almost amounting 

 to dread, all serpents, crocodiles, and other dangerous reptiles, 

 which they scrupulously avoid injuring, under an apprehension 

 of experiencing retaliation, either from that identical reptile 

 or from some other of its species, at a future time. The only 

 serpent which I saw was a small one between three and four feet 

 long, of a light yellow or straw colour, and beautifully marked 

 with transverse stripes of brown ; but I was told the reptile was 

 not venomous. 



The gentleman under whose mats the immense serpent 

 had coiled itself while he was sleeping, also told me that, 

 when passing through the dense unfrequented parts of the 

 forests in the interior, he met with large serpents which, when 

 he has come suddenly upon them, had appeared irritated and 

 had reared themselves up several feet as if to resist his pro- 

 gress, till he attacked them with a spear. 



Though the animals found in Madagascar are few as com- 

 pared with those which people the adjacent continent of Africa, 

 there are several peculiarly interesting species, respecting 

 which I was anxious to obtain information, and, if possible, 

 procure specimens. Among these was the Aye-Aye, Cheiromys 

 Madagascariensis, a remarkable animal, found only in Mada- 

 gascar, and of which only one specimen exists in Europe, in the 

 Museum of Paris. I spoke to some of the intelligent natives 

 about the Aye-Aye, and found it was but rarely met with, and 

 seemed to be regarded with a sort of superstitious feeling, 

 which would make them rather unwilling to attempt its 

 capture. From their remarks and those of others, it does not 

 appear to be confined to the western coast of the island, as 

 has been supposed, several having been taken in other parts 

 and I was led to infer that there is more than one species, as 

 some described the animal as larger than others. 



