CHAP. V. THE AYE-AYE. 145 



laid asleep rolled up in a basket in the house, apparently 

 undisturbed by persons passing near ; but at night it was ne- 

 cessary to secure it, and ultimately it escaped by eating during 

 the night through a bar of hard wood of more than two 

 inches square, a feat which the position and form of its strong 

 sharp incisors, or cutting-teeth, would render it well able to 

 accomplish, as few animals are supposed to possess greater 

 cutting power. I was encouraged to hope, during my visits 

 to the island, that I might add an Aye-Aye to my collection 

 before finally leaving, but my friend had not been able to 

 secure one when I left. There is a stuffed specimen in the 

 Museum of Natural History at Mauritius; but it did not 

 accord exactly with the accounts I had received in the island, 

 and as Mr. P. A. WTiiche, who had presented it to the mu- 

 seum, was not certain whether the captain of one of his ships 

 had brought it from Madagascar or the coast of Africa, I felt 

 doubtful whether it was the Madagascar animal or not, — or, 

 if so, much inclined to expect that more than one species will 

 be found. 



