94 CHIROGALE 



parts and inner side of limbs yellowish or whitish yellow ; orbital ring 

 black; nose and face between eyes light gray; hands and feet dark 

 brown ; tail pale rufous with white tip, or ashy brown for entire length. 

 Measurements. Total length, about 580 ; tail, 275. Skull : occipito- 

 nasal length, 56; Hensel, 47; intertemporal width, 16; palatal length, 

 24 ; zygomatic width, 38 ; median length of nasals, 18 ; width of brain- 

 case, 28; length of upper molar series, 19; length of mandible, 37; 

 length of lower molar series, 20. 



Cheirogaleus ( !) typicus Smith, is undoubtedly the same as the 

 present species. The type is in the British Museum and the following 

 description is taken from it. 



Head and upper parts pale rufous, hairs tipped with gray more 

 profusely on the rump and sides ; orbital ring black ; outer side of limbs 

 and the tail like back ; space between eyes and top of nose without hairs, 

 these having slipped off ; entire under parts yellowish. 



Measurements. Skull : occipito-nasal length, 54 ; zygomatic width, 

 34; intertemporal width, 16; median length of nasals, 19; width of 

 braincase, 26 ; length of upper tooth row, 18 ; length of mandible, 34 ; 

 length of lower tooth row, 16. 



Mr. Shaw, (1. c.) had one of this species in captivity and he relates 

 that it lived in a small box, but was allowed to exercise in the room at 

 night. It was nocturnal in its habits, and was brought from the forest 

 on the lower part of the eastern side of Betsileo province. It ran about 

 on all fours, but sat up to eat, holding its food in its hands. He 

 imagined the animal hibernated, for in the winter, (June), after exer- 

 cising for several nights, on opening the box one evening, it was found 

 asleep and quite cold. He thought it was dead, but on holding it to 

 the fire and rubbing it, it gradually awoke, and after having been 

 thoroughly warmed it was none the worse in health. This happened 

 several times, and from the fact that the tail became suddenly enlarged, 

 it probably would, if in its native forest, have slept through the winter. 

 It made a nest of leaves and dry grass, scooping a place in it just large 

 enough to contain its body, and carefully covering itself with the loose 

 material. Mr. Shaw considered it rare in Madagascar, for he was only 

 able to obtain this individual, although he kept a man two months in the 

 forest seeking it. Of course its nocturnal habits make its capture more 

 difficult. His animal was easily tamed, and became very affectionate, 

 coming when called by name, and enjoyed being handled. 



