88 SLOW LEMUR. 



tinguished from others, he was at all times grate- 

 ful ; but when I disturbed him in winter, he was 

 usually indignant, and seemed to reproach me 

 with the uneasiness which he felt, though no 

 possible precautions had been omitted to keep 

 him in a proper degree of warmth. At all times 

 he was pleased with being stroked oh the head 

 and throat, and frequently suffered me to touch 

 his extremely sharp teeth; but at all times his 

 temper was quick, and, when he was unseason- 

 ably disturbed, he expressed a little resentment by 

 an obscure murmur, like that of a squirrel, or a 

 greater degree of displeasure by a peevish cry, 

 especially in winter, when he was often as fierce, 

 on being much importuned, as any beast of the 

 woods. From half an hour after sunrise to half 

 an hour before sunset, he slept without intermis- 

 sion rolled up like a hedgehog; and as soon as he 

 awoke, he began to prepare himself for the la- 

 bours of his approaching day, licking and dress- 

 ing himself like a cat ; an operation which the 

 flexibility of his neck and limbs enabled him to 

 perform very completely : he was then ready for a 

 slight breakfast, after which he commonly took a 

 short nap ; but when the sun was quite set, he re- 

 covered all his vivacity. His ordinary food was 

 the sweet fruit of this country ; plantains always, 

 and mangos during the season; but he refused 

 peaches, and was not fond of mulberries, or even 

 of guaiavas : milk he lapped eagerly, but was con- 

 tented with plain water. In general he was not 

 voracious, but never appeared satisfied with grass- 



