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NATURAL HISTORY . 
'Cushions, but extremely fine points of touch. Their use is evidently connected with the extremely 
agile boundings, from branch to branch, during the hours when there is little or no light. The sense 
•of feeling, then, replaces that of sight to a great extent, and the supply of nerves is sufficient to excite 
the muscles of the fingers and hands, toes and feet, to hold on at the least touch ; while the cushions 
of fat prevent the extremities from being jarred. These curious tips give a very clumsy appearance 
to the digits, even when they are extremely small. There is a true claw on the second digit (toe) of 
the foot, and nails on the other fingers and toes in some Lemuroids, but there are different arrange- 
LEMUKOIDS AT HOME IN MADAGASCAR. {After Grandidicr.) 
ments of the claws in others. It is noticed when several kinds of them are examined, that there 
is a great difference in their digits as regards their size and length, and the fourth is the longest instead 
of the third, as in man : but sometimes the index, or first finger, not counting the thumb, is much 
reduced in size, and in two forms it is very defective, and only a little knob remains to show its posi- 
tion ; but this apparent deformity has something to do with their method of life. The thumbs are 
well formed, and so are the third, fourth, and fifth digits, the index being as just mentioned, and the 
result is to divide the hands, as it were, into two opposing portions, giving a grasp like that of the 
climbing birds the Parrot, for instance. These kinds of Lemuroida creep slowly towards their prey, 
and clasp the branches firmly before they jump on the insect they desire to catch. Besides these pecu- 
liarities of the hands and feet, which, moreover, are supplied in every joint with tendons and muscles 
of great motive power, the fore-arm is capable of turning the wrist forwards or backwards, or, as it 
