. 
THE GALAGOES. 
the Lemurs properly so called ; a remark whicli requires particular appli- 
cation to the teeth, as it was long supposed there was a subgenus having 
only two incisors in the upper jaw. The truth is tliis : The incisors are 
very small, the upper canines again are particularly large, and the exces- 
sive development of the.se latter frequently displaces the neighbouring 
teeth. The most remarkable feature in the organization of this genus is 
the great length of the posterior extremities, aiiproximating them to the 
Kangaroos. In the Quadrumanaau essential character, as is well known, 
consists in the multiplication, the separation, and the distinct specifica- 
tion, so to speak, of all the parts of the foot. Now, the elongation of 
the hinder limb is, in the case before us, effected without in the slightest 
degree deranging the type of the order, and solely by a cliange in the vo- 
lume of some of its parts. Of the seven bones which form the tarsus, 
two only, namely, the Scaphoid and Calcaneum, are lengtliencd ; and not- 
withstanding the marked cimnge thus produced, the common forms and 
use of the bones tliemselves are modified but to a trifling extent. 
Tile great length of these limbs, and the size of the eyes and external o.ars, 
all harmonize with the fact tliatthe Galagoes are nocturnal and insectivo- 
rous. By means of the large auricle, whose folds it actually expands, it is ad- 
vertised of the slightest noise, even to the flitting of an Insect through the 
air ; and on perceiving one, darts upon it like a Hau'k. This it does in 
two w'ays; seated in ambush, and hid beneath the foliage, it sometimes 
starts up only on its hind feet, without quitting the branch, in a mo- 
ment it darts upon its victim, and clenches it: more fretpiently, however, 
like the Bat, it seizes its prey in the air, vaulting surprisingly, fl\ing from 
branch, to branch, and scarcely ever missing the object of pursuit. 
Like most of the Bats, the Galagoes, during repose, escape from the 
amioyauce which the extreme acuteness of their hearing might produce j 
for they have the remarkable power of closing their ears when asleep. 
These appendages contracting and folding at their base, retract to that ex- 
tent that they even become invisible. When roused from sleep by any 
sudden noise, the animal unfolds, and we may almost say expands, every 
part of its ear, extending it in the direction whence the sound emanates. 
This appendage, thou, it is interesting to observe, subserves a double pur- 
pose; expanded, it is an admirable acoustic instrument; and contracted, 
it completely plugs up the auditory foramen. The animal can thus at 
will make itself deaf, or nearly so; a most happy faculty during its hours 
of repose, when the animated and busy scenes around it are all active 
and noisy under the light of day. It has thus a kind of eye-lid to the 
ear, rendered the more necessary from the exquisite sensibility and groat 
perfection of the sense. 
The habits of the Galagoes resemble those of Monkeys and Squirrels. 
Generally quite gentle, they live perched upon trees, and cling to the 
branches almost like Birds. Their agility in pursuit of their living prey 
quite astonishes an observer ; their motions arc so rapid that the eye can- 
not follow them, and they are almost as quick in devouring their prey as 
in seizing it. They make a most comfortable bed for their young. The 
Negroes hunt them as an article of food. 
1. OTOLICNUS CR.\SSIC-\UDATUS GREAT GALAGO. 
Syn. Galaso CtiASSiCAUDATUs. — Geoff. Ann. Mus. XIX. — Desm. Mam. 
Galago a (Wiiuii TOurruii. — Desm. Mam. 
dcon. Le Giiani) Galago. — Cuv. Reg. Anim. III. pi. I, fig. 1. — Nouv. 
Diet, d’llist. Nat. XIII. pi. E. 31. 
SPECIFIC CIIARACTEIIS. 
The Haiii reddish-grey. The Eaus two-thirds of tlic length of the 
I'ead. 
I.nhabits Africa. 
Of this Galago, distinguished as Le Grand by Cuvier, and cat.ilogued 
nearly .all systematic writers, exceedingly little is known. It is ol about 
the size of a Rabbit; the ears are oval, and equal two-thirds of the body 
>n length; the fur is thick and silky, and of a reddish-grey colour; the 
tail is throughout bushy. Its habits are supposed to correspond with 
those of its congeners, and its precise locality has not been ascertained. 
2. OTOLICNUS SENEGALENSIS — SENEGAL GALAGO. 
Svfl. Le AIoven (Galago). — Cuv. Reg. Aiiim. I. 109. 
Gai.iIGO Senecale.nsis — Geolf. Ann. Mus. XIX — Desm. Mam. 
Galago GEOFFROyi. — G. Fischer, in Act. -Soc. Mosc. I. p. 2o. 
Lemcu Galago. — S haw, Gen. Zool. I. 
icon. I,E Galago .Audeb. Sing. 
Galago uu Senegal F. Cuv. et Gooff’. Mist. Mam — Schreb. Saiiglh. 
pi. 38, 15. 
Galago Moholi Smiili.i Zool. S. Afr. pi. 8. (Mamm.) 
specific characteks. 
Tub Haik ycIlowish-grey above ; yellowish-white beneath; tending to. 
reddish on the tail. 
The Ears as long as the head- 
Inhauiis Western and Southern Africa. 
The most striking characters of this intere.stiiig-looking animal are its 
ears, equal in dimensions toils whole head; its posterior limbs greater in 
length than the body and liead together, and the tail longer than both. The 
fur is rather long, busliy , and very soft ; it is longest on the body ; somewhat 
less so on the bead, rather unequal on the lower part of the body, very 
short on the bauds, and under the tarsus. This Galago is yellowisli-white 
beneath, and yellowish-grey above, tending to reddish on the tail ; the 
points only of the hairs have the grey cast, the basal portion being of a 
blueisb asli colour ; the yellow commences on the extremities, whilst the 
bead is wholly grey. A yellowish- white band pervades the whole chaii- 
frin. 
This, and probably the other species, are very common in Western 
Africa. I'be Moors, who frequently bring them to the coast, sell them to 
the Europeans under the name of Gum animals — a circumstance which has 
induced some to believe that they eat this article. It is owing merely, 
however, to the gum trees attracting Insects, and of course tiieir devourers. 
In captivity tiiese creatures must be kept with all the care exercised 
towards Birds ; for they are exceedingly apt to escape, and it is almost im- 
possible again to catcli them. Their vivacity, their extreme petulance, 
and the extent of their leaps, are truly surprising, and not less so the ex- 
tensive motion of their ears. 
Although the reasons assigned by Dr Smith do not appear to us suf- 
ficient for the establishment of the now species he proposes (Galago Mo- 
holi, whicli we anticipate further impiiry will assign to the present), yet 
we are happy to quote his excellent description of the animal so frequently 
seen in Southern Africa. “ The first specimens we observed were 
upon two trees close to the Limpopo River, in about latitude 20'’ S., and 
from tliat parallel we continued to observe others as far as we travelled. 
During their movements tliey evince great activity ; they spring from 
branch to branch, and even from tree to tree, with extraordinary facility, 
and always seize with one of their fore-feet the branch upon wliich 
they intend to rest. Iii their manners they manifest considerable resem- 
blance to Monkeys, particularly in tlieir propensity to ilie practice of ri- 
diculous grimaces, gesticulations, &c. According to the natives it is a noc- 
turnal animal, and is rarely to be seen during tbe day. Tlie latter it 
spends in its nest; where tbe female rears her young, generally two at a 
birth. Its food consists principally of pulpy fruits, tbougli there is reason 
to believe it also consumes Insects, as tbe remains of tlie latter were dis- 
covered in the stomachs of several individuals we examined-” 
3. OTOLICNUS MADAGASCARIENSLS MADAGASCAR 
GALAGO. 
Stjn. Le Petit (G.i!ago). — Cuv. Reg. Anim. I. 109. 
GAL.VGOMAnAG.iscARlENSis. — Gvolf. Ann. Mus. XIX Desm. Main. 
OTOLICNUS JIaoagascaiuensis. — S chinz Thieir. I. 147. 
Murine Lemur. — P enn. Qtiatir. I. 232. 
Microcerus RUFUS. — Geoft'. Cours. Lee. 11, p. 24. 
Lemur murinus Linn. Gnicl. I. 44. 
Icon. Maki nain. — F. Cuv. et Geoff'. Hist. Mam. 
I.EMUR PusiLLUs (Le Maki nain) — Audeb. Sing. 
Rat de Madagascar. — Buff. Hist. Nat. Suppl. III. p|. 20. 
specific characters. 
The Hair dark-grey above ; whitisli lienoath. . The Ears much less 
than the head. 
Inhabits Madagascar. 
This Galago, though of dimensions and general appearance such as very 
naturally procured for it the appellation ol tlie Madagascar Rat, yet pos- 
sesses a structure which removes it far from the order Rodeutia, and 
places it in tliat one on wliich we are now dwelling. Its organs of motion, 
even to tlie crooked nail on the index fingers of the posterior extremity, 
agree precisely with those of its congeners. Its tail lias lieen remarked to'be 
somewhat less busliy ; its oars are proportionally very decidedly smaller than 
the previous species; they are also rounder, hut are memhraniiceous and 
naked ; the eyes are of the same great size, and the pupil is round. The 
tomiue is smooth. The whole of its body, except tlie muzzle and the ex- 
tremity of its members, is covered witli a thick fur, composed of wavy 
silk-lookiug hairs, soft and light. The forehead, hack of tlie head, upper 
part of the neck, the shoulders, and superior portion of the arms, as well 
as the back and upper parts of the body, and the whole of tlie tail, are 
Smith, Zool. S. Aril Illustrations of the Zoology of South Africa, consisting chiefly of Figures ami Descriptions of the objects of Mtural History, collected du- 
iJRg an Expedition into the Interior of South .'i.frioa in the years 1834 to 1836, futed out by the Cape of Good Hope Association ior cxinoimg Lential Africa. By Aiidreu 
^‘Riih, M.D. London, 1838, ctseq. 
