7048 Quadrupeds. 



knowing what absurd tales are sometimes related of birds and beasts. 

 The peasants of England, for instance, firmly believe that the hedge- 

 hog sucks the milk of the cows, and that the goatsucker or flying toad 

 that of the goats, but, although we ought to accept these popular ideas 

 cum grano salts, it is quite worth while to inquire whether the habits 

 which are attributed to the aye-aye are in harmony with its conform- 

 ation ; besides, I did not see why it should not eat the worms in the 

 trees, though I could not understand why it should make use of the 

 second finger to draw them from their holes, not believing that it could 

 either pierce or extract the worm. However, I soon had an oppor- 

 tunity of proving the truth of this assertion : having found some 

 branches which had been eaten by worms I placed them in its cage, 

 and observed its movements. I soon saw it climb on one of the 

 branches and examine it attentively ; it then inclined its ears forward, 

 and applying its nose to the bark he struck it rapidly with his curious 

 second finger, as the woodpecker strikes the tree, though with much 

 less noise. From time to time he introduced the tip of the wire-like 

 finger into the worm holes, as a surgeon would his probe. At length 

 he came to a part of the branch which evidently afforded an interesting 

 sound, for he began tearing it with his strong teeth. He soon tore oflf 

 the bark, cut away the wood, and exposed the hole of the worm, which 

 he delicately extracted with his wire-like finger and conveyed up to 

 his mouth. I observed his movements with much interest, and was 

 struck with the wonderful manner in which this animal is provided 

 with the means adapted to his habits ; first, the fine sense of hearing, 

 which enables him to distinguish the different sounds produced in the 

 wood by his light tapping ; then the delicate smell which doubtless 

 assists him in his researches; his secure step over the flexible branches, 

 to which he clings by means of his four hands ; his strong gnawing 

 teeth, by which he tears the hardest wood ; and, lastly, the curious 

 little finger, which he uses in turn for so many purposes. 



The Hybrid between Horse and Deer. — Have you ov any competent zoologist ex- 

 amined the animal now shown in London, purporting to " combine the species of the 

 deer and the horse? " Is it the same animal that was alleged to have been found in 

 the New Forest a few years ago, and that was figured in the ' Illustrated London 

 News.' — George Guyon ; Ventnor, Isle of Wight, April 4, 1860. 



Birth of three Bears at Clifton Zoological Gardens. — A very interesting and 

 curious addition has lately been made to the animals in the gardens of the Society, by 

 the birth of three young bears. Not that there is anything unusual in the circum- 

 stance of bears of the same species breeding in confinement. Those kept in the fosse 



