1863-64 ‘MEMOIR ON THE AYE-AYE’ 139 
retreat. Such labour would, however, be too much 
for the reproductive power of even its strong-built, 
wide-based, deep-planted, pulp-retaining incisors; in 
most instances we may well conceive such labour 
of exposure to be disproportionate to the morsel 
to be so obtained. Another part of the frame of the 
aye-aye is, accordingly, modified in a singular and, 
as it seems, anomalous way to meet this exigency. 
We may suppose that the larva retracts its head 
so far from the opening gnawed in its burrow as 
to be out of reach of the lips or tongue of the aye- 
aye. One finger, however, on each hand of that 
animal has been ordained to grow in length, but 
not in thickness, with the other digits ; it remains 
slender, as a probe, and is provided at the end with 
a hook-like claw. By the doubtless rapid inser- 
tion and delicate application of this digit, the grub 
is seized and drawn out. For this delicate man- 
oeuvre the aye-aye needs a free command of its 
Upper or fore-limbs ; and, to give it that power, 
one of the digits of the hind foot is so modified 
and directed that it can be applied thumb-wise to 
the other toes, and the foot is made a prehensile 
hand. Hereby the body is steadied by the firm 
grasp of these hinder hands during all the opera- 
tions of the head, jaws, teeth, and fore-paws 
tequired for the discovery and capture of the 
Common and favourite food of the nocturnal 
animal.’ 
The living aye-aye, it may be added, was visited 
