TARSIUS 11 



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 around 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 woody growth. 

 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 habits 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 

 off grasshoppers sitting on their haunches on my hand. When offered 

 an insect, the 'Magou' would stare for a short time with its most won- 

 derful 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 quietly passed through the sharp 

 little teeth, the kicking legs being held by both hands. When the 

 insect was beyond farther 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 tremen- 

 dous 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, this 'Magou' doubtless 

 having returned to its old haunts from which it had been driven by the 

 wood cutters. This delusion is fatal to all captured 'Magous,' as they 

 are immediately put on a diet of charcoal, and, therefore, soon starve to 

 death." 



