246 
NATURAL HISTORY. 
own account, liis eyes light up, and lie seems more alive to liis interests, tliougli seldom increasing the 1 
activity of liis movements. On a table lie waddles like a sailor newly ashore, but with a rope or 
bough to grasn, by foot or hand, there ensues a grip like a vice, and a steady mode of ascent putting, 
him betimes out of reach or danger. 
The eye of the Kukang, besides its adaptation to nocturnal vision, in the presence of a tapetum, 
or silvery lining to the choroid or blood-vessel layer, has also a singular manner of closing. Instead of 
the eyelids shutting from above downwards, as in the majority of Mammals, they approach obliquely 
outwards and inwards. This mode of closure is entirely due to an inequality in the fleshy fibres- 
which surround the eyelid, and, together with the large pupil, somewhat elliptical in shape, produces 
in daylight a very strange, unmeaning look. It has a very odd knack of hanging to boughs, body 
downwards, and the way in which it is done, asleep or awake, apparently receives explanation from 
the mode in which certain of the flexor muscles are fastened above the knee-joint. Thus, by simply' 
bending of the leg, the toes are drawn (on bending) together, and hold fast without any sensible 
muscular exertion. The mechanism, in fact, is similar In kind to that which enables birds to 
perch while slumbering, or by which Bats adhere to crevices while suspended head downwards. 
It possesses the peculiar rete mirabile of blood-vessels already noticed. 
Many anecdotes respecting the habits of the Nycticebus in confinement have hitherto found- 
currency, a similar vein of narrative running through each. One kept by Mr. Baird some nine- 
months had a preference for veal, fresli-lcilled fowls’ necks, sugar, and gum-arabic, cooked meat being 
abhorred. Instead of recounting old stories, we append the following observations of Captain Tickell, 
not hitherto made public : — 
“ This animal is tolerably common in the Tenasserim provinces, and in Arracan, but from being; 
strictly nocturnal in its habits is seldom seen. It inhabits the densest forests, and never by choice 
leaves the trees. Its movements are slow, but it climbs readily, and grasps with great tenacity. If 
placed on the ground, it can proceed, if frightened, in a wavering kind of trot, the limbs bent at right 
angles, like a mutilated Spider. It sleeps rolled up in a ball, its head and hands buried between its 
thighs, and wakes up at the dusk of evening to commence its nocturnal rambles. The female bears- 
but one young at a time. In confinement they are at first savage, bite severely, and in spite of geheral 
slow movements, can do so pretty quickly, uttering a rough grunt or growl. They, however, get- 
quiet, if not absolutely docile, in time, and are kept without difficulty, requiring no other diet than 
plantains, or any other kind of fruit. They become content to remain in the smallest box, where 
another animal would soon pine and perish for want of exercise. When for a time confined they 
readily abandon their nocturnal habits, eat during the day, and rest at night. They will thus remain 
contentedly on an old punkah hung in a lumber-room, for many days ; but, unless thoroughly reclaimed,, 
they will always seize an opportunity during night to escape, never travelling far, however, and 
generally turning up in some thicket or bamboo-clump, or other quiet corner in the grounds. They 
greedily devour all sorts of insects, and also birds’ eggs.’ 
On one occasion Captain Tickell watched an individual crawling along the floor to seize a 
Cockroach. When it had approached within ten or twelve inches, it drew its hind feet gradually 
forwards until almost under its chest ; it then cautiously and slowly raised itself up into a standing, 
position, balancing itself awkwardly with its uplifted arms, and then, to his astonishment, flung itself r 
not upon the insect, which was off u like an arrow from a Tartar’s bow,” but on the spot which it had,, 
half a second before, tenanted (see woodcut). This is its manner, however, of catching such of its living, 
food as will wait long enough. Grubs, Caterpillars, and the slower Beetles (Sca/rabcm) are seized in 
one or both hands, and slowly carried to its mouth, and there solemnly munched up ; the Nycticebus 
looking all the time, with its delicate small muzzle and its protuberant eyes, like one of those apologetic 
pigmy Lapdogs ladies love to carry. It is almost wholly silent, but when roused to take food, now and 
then it utters a feeble tone, like the crackling of some substance in the fire. "W hen angry, and about 
to bite, it gives forth a tolerably loud growl or grunt. 
The above animal (with one or possibly two species) forms the genus Nycticebus, in which the 
body and limbs are short ; there is no tail, and the head is globular, whilst there are no less than 
sixteen back-bones with libs. The index finger is short, and there is a nail on it. 
The next genus is called Loris, or Stenops. 
