382 ME. OLDFIELD THOMAS ON MAMMALS 



" This remarkable mammal is found in the islands of Samar and Leite, where it is 

 called by the Bisayas ' Magou.' So far as I am aware, it has not been obtained in 

 Luzon or Mindoro to the north, or in Masbate, Cebu, Negros, or Panay, islands to the 

 west and north-west of Samar. It probably occurs in the great island of Mindanao, 

 and perhaps in Bohol, to the south of Leite. 



" In habits the ' Magou ' is nocturnal, as the enormous owl-like eyes would lead one 

 to suppose ; it frequents abandoned clearings, where the new growth has sprung up to 

 a height of some twenty feet, and in Samar, where the ground is also thickly covered 

 with ferns and other plants to a height of some three feet. In such places this little 

 animal easily conceals itself during the day. I had the good fortune to see a 

 ' Magou ' in such a locality one day in Samar. The Tarsius was clinging to the stem 

 of a small tree just above the fern-growth, with its peculiar hands round the tree; it 

 was awake and intently watching my movements, and permitted me to approach as 

 close as I wished: when, doubtless, at the least sudden movement of my hands it 

 would have jumped to the ground and made off in the thick undergrowth. During 

 the night the ' Magou ' is very active, and may often be heard, in localities where 

 they are numerous, uttering a peculiar squeak like a monkey. From its habit of 

 feeding only on insects, this animal has a strong Bat-like smell. 



" In Samar, where at different times I kept several ' Magous ' alive, I found them 

 very docile and easily managed during the day. They fed freely off grasshoppers, 

 sitting on their haunches on my hand. When offered an insect, the ' Magou ' would 

 stare for a short time with its most wonderful eyes, then slowly bend forward and 

 with a sudden dash would seize the insect with both hands and instantly carry it to 

 its mouth, shutting its eyes and screwing up its tiny face in a most whimsical fashion. 

 The grasshopper was then quickly passed through the sharp little teeth, the kicking 

 legs being held with both hands. When the insect was beyond further mischief, the 

 large eyes of the ' Magou ' would open, and the legs and wings were then bitten off, 

 while the rest of the body was thoroughly masticated. My captives would also drink 

 fresh milk from a spoon. After the sun had set this little animal became most 

 difficult to manage, escaping when possible, and making tremendous jumps from chair 

 to chair. When on the floor it bounded about like a miniature kangaroo, travelling 

 about the room on its hind legs with the tail stretched out and curved upward, 

 uttering peculiar shrill monkey-like squeaks, and biting quite viciously when the 

 opportunity offered. During the day the pupil of the eye becomes so contracted that 

 it appears only as a fine line, but after dark it is so expanded as to fill up most of 

 the iris. 



" The popular native idea is that the ' Magou ' feeds on charcoal, the reason for 

 this being that the animal is generally found after the old plantations have been cut 

 down and burnt, the ' Magou ' doubtless having returned to its old haunts from 



