66 4 FLYING LEMUR. 
legs have a reddish cast ; the black prevails on 
the feet, which are covered with short hairs of 
that colour ; the head is shaped like that of a 
squirrel,, and there are two cutting teeth in front 
of each jaw ; the ears are large, round, and naked, 
resembling those of a bat, and of a black colour. 
The feet are long, and somewhat resemble those 
of the tarsier ; the interior toes of the hind feet 
are short, and furnished with flat, round nails, as 
in the lemurs ; but the principal character of the 
animal consists in the extraordinary structure of 
the fore feet, which have the two middle toes of 
an uncommon length, most extremely thin, and 
perfectly naked, except at their base ; all the 
claws on the fore feet are sharp and crooked. 
It is a timid, slow, mild animal, which sleeps 
almost continually ; its eye resembles that of an 
owl, and cannot well endure strong day-light. It 
is a native of Madagascar, where it inhabits the 
woods. It is extremely rare, and is supposed to 
feed upon fruits, insects, &c. Its native name 
is aye-aye, which is said to be taken from its 
natural voice, or cry, which resembles a feeble 
scream. 
1 Flying colugo, or flying lemur. 
This very * singular animal is so remarkably 
distinguished from all others, that it is made a 
distinct genus in the modern systematic arrange^ 
meat. 
The colugo is a native of the Molucca and 
Philippine islands, where it is said to frequent 
•Woody places, and to feed principally on fruits. 
It almost constantly resides on trees, and makes 
use of its membranes in the same maimer as the 
Hying squirrels. In descending from the top of 
& tree, it. spreads its membranes, and balances. 
