THE A YE- AYE. 
•2o5 
and it is lodged in the fork of the brandies of a large tree. In this the A /e-Aye resembles the 
lower Lemuroids, and not the genera Loris and Tarsias. 
The specimen of the Aye- Aye examined by Owen is three feet in length, the included tail 
measuring one foot eight inches and a half, and the fourth fingers of the hand and the fourth toes 
are the longest. The forefinger is shorter than the fifth, or little finger, and the second toe, counting 
the toe- thumb as the first, is shorter than the little toe. 
The Aye-Aye is admirably adapted for its peculiar life, although part of its construction is very 
unlike that of the other Lemuroids, whose habits are much the same. Having nocturnal habits, the eyes 
are especially formed for the purpose of admitting all the light possible. They are large, prominent, 
and none of the “ white ” or conjunctiva is seen, only the cornea and the light brown or hazel-coloured 
ills behind it (commonly called the “sight”) being visible. It is a very staring, open eye, and the pupil 
is capable of being widely opened in the dark, and in fact it dilates generally as the light wanes, so as 
to admit every possible ray. In daylight, on the contrary, it contracts to a pin’s point in size, so as to 
shut out the light which would dazzle the eye and probably produce injury to it. There is a titpeuim 
(see page 214) which assists in nocturnal vision. Nature has protected the eye not only with lids, for- 
there are traces of eyelashes on the upper one but not on the lower, under which, however, there are 
some bristles. There is a kind of eyebrow in the form of tufts of a dozen very slender bristle-like 
hairs, and to complete the arrangement for protecting the eye against direct injury, and for letting the 
animal know when things are near enough to injure its organ of sight, there is what is called a 
nictitating fold in each eye. This is a layer of the white of the eye, or conjunctiva, situated close 
to the inner side near the nose, and which extends when required over the “ sight ” as a cover and 
protection. In addition to the nocturnal sight, the Aye-Aye has evidently extremely delicate 
hearing, the ears being large, spoon-shaped, and open, and their sense is very acute. For, either by 
healing or by their very fine sense of smell, it detects grubs in the wood, and soon has them out, 
thanks to its teeth and claws. 
The feet are long, and are made for grasping and for supporting the Aye-Aye on boughs whilst 
it uses its hands and teeth. They are very strong, and have a very long ankle, and claws to all the 
toes, except to the great thumb-like toe, which is very powerful, and has a fiat nail. But it is in the 
hands and teeth that the singularity of the animal is made manifest, which makes it so little like 
the Lemuroida as a group. The hand is unique, but the front of the skull and the front teeth resemble 
those of the gnawing animals, and hence the name Clieiromys, which means hand-rat. Something has 
been said already regarding the food of the animal, and as its nature has to do with the hands and 
teeth, it is advisable to quote the able Superintendent of the Zoological Gardens, Mr. Bartlett — 
“In feeding,” writes Mr. Bartlett, “the left hand only is used, but the examination of the 
mode of taking her food requires careful attention, owing to the very rapid movement of the 
hand. The fourth finger, which is the largest and longest, is thrust forward into the food ; the 
.■slender third finger is raised upwards and backwards above the rest, while the first finger (or thumb) 
is lowered so as to be seen below and behind the chin. In this position the hand is drawn backwards 
and forwards rapidly, the inner side of the fourth finger passing between the lips, the head of the 
animal being held sideways, thus depositing the food in the mouth at each movement. The tongue, 
jaws, and lips are kept in full motion all the time. Sometimes the animal will advance towards the 
dish and lap like a Cat, but this is unusual. The skeleton-like third finger is used with great address 
in cleansing her face and picking the corners of the eyes, nose, mouth, ears, and other parts of the 
body, and during these operations the other fingers are closed.” From all that has hitherto been 
observed, the Aye-Aye evidently eats both insects and vegetable food, so that in captivity it will 
reject meat food more or less. In its natural state it will prefer the grubs of some trees to those 
which frequent others, and it searches along the boughs for some evidence of their presence, and, with 
teeth and slim fingers, opens their galleries and brings them to light. 
The teeth are Certainly remarkable. There are two sets, the milk teeth and the adult teeth. 
In the first, or milk teeth, there are two front teeth, one canine tooth, and a molar or grinder on each 
side of the upper jaw. In the lower jaw there is but one front tooth, no canine, and one 
molar on each side. A further peculiarity consists in the falling out of the molars, one incisor, and 
the canine in the upper jaw, to be replaced by the following adult dentition, or second set. 'This 
