THE STORY OF THE LEMUR. 
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they soon become docile. They are very susceptible to cold, and when so 
affected are apt to be fractious and petulant. 
I once had a tame loris which was especially fond of plantains, also 
partial to small birds, which, when put into his cage, he killed speedily; and, 
plucking the feathers off with the skill of a poulterer, soon lodged the carcass 
in his stomach. He ate the bones as well as the flesh; and though birds, and 
mice perhaps, were his favorite food, he ate other meat very readily, espe¬ 
cially when quite fresh ; if boiled, or otherwise cooked, he would not taste it. 
He preferred veal to all other kinds of butcher’s meat; eggs, also, he was 
fond of, and sugar was especially grateful to his palate; he likewise ate gum- 
arabic. As flesh was not always to be had quite fresh, he was for some 
time fed upon bread sopped in water, and sprinkled with sugar ; this he ate 
readily, and seemed to relish it. When food was presented to him, if 
hungry, he seized it with both hands, and, letting go with his right, held it 
with his left all the time he was eating. Frequently, when feeding, he 
grasped the bars in the upper part of his cage with his hind paws, and hung 
inverted, appearing very much intent upon the food he held in his left hand. 
He was exceedingly fond of oranges; but, when they were at all hard he 
seemed very much puzzled how to "extract the juice. I have, upon such 
an occasion, seen him lie all his length upon his back, in the bottom of the 
cage, and, firmly grasping the piece of orange in both hands, squeeze the 
juice into his mouth. He generally sat upon his hind part (the hair of which 
was much worn by long sitting), close to the bars of his cage, grasping 
them firmly with his hind paws; he then rolled himself up like a ball, with 
his head in his breast, his thighs closely placed over his belly, and his arms 
over his head, generally grasping the bars of the cage with his hands also. 
In this position, and also without moving, he remains the whole day. Upon 
coming into the Channel, the cold weather affected him very much; he 
was seized with cramp, and I at that time placed him in a small box, which 
was filled with very soft down. This he felt so agreeable that, when cold, he 
never left it during the whole day, unless disturbed, and slept in it rolled 
up in the shape of a ball. 
His temper, in cold weather especially, was very quick; but, in general, 
he was rather timid, and never offered any injury unless incautiously 
touched, teased, or provoked; he then made a shrill, plaintive cry, evidently 
expressive of much annoyance, and would bite very sharply. 
