38 A HAND-BOOK OF THE MANAGEMENT OF ANIMALS 



Food.— Insects, eggs, milk, raisins, minced meat, bread and some- 

 times small birds. Bread and milk and either a few grasshoppers or 

 a boiled egg form their usual food in the garden. 



Observations on the habits of a Marmoset. 

 Their principal occupation consists of jumping about from perch 

 to perch and climbing up and down the sides of the cage. They may be 

 sometimes seen nestling under the straw, or in the folds of their blankets. 



(42) THE MONGOOSE LEMUE. 

 (LEMUR MONQOZ^{Linn.) ) 

 Description. — Its muzzle is produced and forehead flat and broad. 

 Eyes large ; general colour reddish grey ; face black ; in some there is 

 a band of iron grey colour across the forehead. Tail long and bushy. 

 Hah. — Madagascar. 



Length of life in captivity. 

 The longest period during which a mongoose lemur ha9 lived in 

 the garden has been upwards of eleven years. 



Treatment in health. 



Housing. — Mongoose lemurs are kept in one of the movable cages 

 inside the Ghibbay House. 



Food. — Fruits, eggs, bread and milk. 



Breeding. — Lemurs have bred in the garden ; they have only one 

 young at a birth. When the first event took place, the cage contain- 

 ing the mother and the young was removed to a secluded spot and 

 kept there for about three months until the young was able to shift for 

 itself ; the young one clung to the back of the mother for about six 

 months, coming down only when there was no one close by. 



Treatment in sickness. 

 The maladies from which these animals have been noticed to suffer 

 are inflammation of the lungs; congestion of the liver; skin disease. 

 With the exception of the last, all of them proved fatal. 



Observations on the habits of Lemurs. 



Lemurs are very sociable active creatures, constantly jumping 

 about or pacing their cages ; they carry their long bushy tails curved 

 forward over their back. They may constantly be seen in the act of 

 cleaning their fur. 



Although nocturnal in habits in their wild state, they have, it 

 appears, adapted themselves to their changed circumstances and remain 

 generally awake and lively during the day. 



The other species of Lemur exhibited in the gardens are — 



(43) THE BUFFED LEMUR. 



(LEMUR VABHTS— Geoffir) 

 Description. — Colour black, with grey whiskers. 

 Hah. — Madagascar. 

 This animal has been lately acquired. 



