46 AfADAGASCAR 
tave. The animal, which is strong and about the size 
of a cat, reminds us by its long bushy tail of our squirrel, 
and this resemblance is strengthened by the presence of 
gnawing teeth; the owl-like head is furnished with yel¬ 
lowish brown eyes and large naked ears as thin as paper. 
The fingers of the fore limb are exceedingly slender, the 
middle finger is greatly lengthened and apparently serves 
Sifaka (Propitliecus). 
for pulling out alive the concealed larvae of lucanidae and 
cerambycidae which are laid bare when it strips off the 
bark of the trees by means of its chisel-shaped in¬ 
cisors. 
When newly taken the aye-aye is restless and fierce, but 
grows tame after a short time. The natives formerly had 
a superstitious fear of the animal and could with difficulty 
be induced to capture it; but the considerable sums 
which were offered have had so enlightening an effect 
