DAUBENTONIA 5 



duced at a birth, and the female builds a large nest, two feet in diame- 

 ter, of rolled up leaves of the Traveller tree, lining it with twigs and 

 dry leaves and with an entrance on one side. The natives are very 

 superstitious in regard to this animal, and are very unwilling to attempt 

 to capture it. 



A female Aye-Aye lived for several years in the Garden of the 

 Zoological Society in Regent's Park, London, and Mr. Bartlett, the late 

 Superintendent, has placed on record (1. c.) some interesting facts 

 regarding its habits. On the voyage it gave birth to one young, which 

 lived only ten days, and the mother was in very poor condition when 

 she arrived, being thin and feeble. It slept during the day, lying on its 

 side with the body curved and the tail spread out and flattened, and 

 used as a covering, almost concealing the animal. At night it was 

 active, moving about its cage in the dark and trying to gnaw its way 

 out. It exhibited no uneasiness when a light was introduced, but tried 

 to touch the lamp with its long fingers. It was in the habit of hang- 

 ing by the hind legs, and when so suspended, employed the slender 

 wire-like finger to clean and comb the tail. The same finger was 

 utilized to clean the face, and pick at the corners of the eyes, the nose, 

 mouth, ears, and various parts of the body. While so occupied the 

 other fingers are kept partially closed. 



Only the left hand was used in feeding and was moved very 

 rapidly. The manner of taking food was peculiar. The fourth finger 

 was thrust into the food, the slender finger being at the same time 

 raised above and behind the others, and the first finger and thumb were 

 lowered. The hand is then drawn rapidly back and forth, the inner side 

 of the fourth finger passing between the lips, the head all the time held 

 sideways, and at each movement the food was deposited in the mouth. 

 Sometimes the animal would lap up the food from the dish, but not 

 often. It never watched for its food or guarded it, for on Mr. Bart- 

 lett's removing the dish while the creature was feeding, it continued to 

 thrust its hand forward, and only discontinued when no more food 

 was procured, and then moved away to search elsewhere. After taking 

 food in a fluid state, it frequently ate portions of wood and bark. It 

 was fed upon a mixture of milk, honey, eggs and any thick, sweet, 

 gelatinous food, but would not touch meal worms, grasshoppers, the 

 larva? of wasps and similar objects. It never uttered any sound or 

 exhibited any anger, neither was it shy. Mr. Bartlett obtained some 

 fresh sugar cane and placed some sticks in the cage, and the Aye-Aye 



