THE COL V GO. 



101 



The eyes are of a brownish-yellow color, and very sensitive to light, as may be expected 

 in a creature so entirely nocturnal in its habits. The movements of the Aye-aye are slow 

 and deliberate, though not so sluggish as those of the Loris. It is not a very small animal, 

 measuring almost a yard in total length, of which the tail occupies one moiety. 



On a review of this and the Lemurine monkeys, it can hardly fail to strike the observer 

 that there must be something very strange in the climate or position of Madagascar — perhaps 

 in both — that forbids the usual quadrumanous forms, and produces in their stead the Lemurs, 

 the Indris, and the Aye-aye. So very little is known of this important island, that it may be 

 the home of hitherto unknown forms 

 of animal life, which, when brought 

 under the observation of competent 

 naturalists, would till up sundry blanks 

 that exist in the present list of known 

 animals, and afford, in their own per- 

 sons, the clue to many interesting sub- 

 jects which are now buried in mystery. 



The strange animal which is known 

 by the name of the Plying Lemur, or 

 Colugo, presents a singular resem- 

 blance to the large bat which is popu- 

 larly called the Flying Fox, and evi- 

 dently affords an intermediate link of 

 transition between the four-handed and 

 the wing-handed mammals. 



By means of the largely-developed 

 membrane which connects the limbs 

 with each other, and the hinder limbs 

 with the tail, the Colugo is enabled to 

 leap through very great distances, and 

 to pass from one bough to another with 

 ease, although they may be situated so 

 far apart that no power of leaping 

 could achieve the feat. This membrane 

 is a prolongation of the natural skin, 

 and is covered with hair on the upper 

 side as thickly as any part of the body, 

 but beneath it is almost naked. When 



the creature desires to make one of its long sweeping leaps, it spreads its limbs as widely as 

 possible, and thus converts itself into a kind of living kite. By thus presenting a large sur- 

 face to the air, it can be supported in its passage between the branches, and is said to be able 

 to vary its course slightly by the movement of its arms. 



When the animal is walking or climbing about among the branches, the wide membrane 

 is folded so closely to the body, that it might escape the observation of an inexperienced eye. 

 The membrane is not used in the manner of wings, but is merely employed as a sustaining 

 power in the progress through the air. It is evident, therefore, that at every leap, the spot 

 at which it aims must be lower than that from which it starts, so that it is forced, after some 

 few aerial voyages, to run up the trees and attain a higher station. It is said that the Colugo 

 will thus pass over nearly a hundred yards. 



COLUGO . — Ga/enjiU/iecus volitaus. 



