THE LEMURS. 33

species, most of which belong to Madagascar, others to Africa,
Asia, and the Indian Archipelago; the Zarside, which hail from
Sumatra and Borneo; and the Chiromytde, of which the aye-
aye is the representative. The Lemuride are divided into
four sub-families by Professor Mivart. I, the Indri; II, the
true Lemurs; III, the slow Lemurs and IV, the Galagos.
The lemur is nocturnal in its habits and noiseless in its
movements. Some of its species much resemble the cat in
appearance though its four hands unmistakably demonstrate
its order. Sir William Jones describes a Slow Lemur (Wycticebus
tardigradus), which he had in his possession, as “gentle ex-
cept in the cold season, when his temper seemed wholly
changed.” This animal expressed great resentment when
disturbed unseasonably. From half an hour after sunrise to
half an hour before sunset he slept without any intermission,
rolled up like a hedgehog: and as soon as he awoke he
began to prepare himself for the occupations of his approach-
ing day, licking and dressing himself like a cat—an operation —
which the flexibility of his neck and limbs enabled him to
perform very completely. He was then ready for a slight
breakfast, after which he commonly took a short nap; but
when the sun was quite set he recovered all his vivacity.
“ Generally he was not voracious, but of grasshoppers he never
could have enough; and passed the whole night during the
hot season in prowling for them. He used all his paws
indifferently as hands.” Mrs. Bowdich tells of one of these
animals, procured by Mr. Baird at Prince of Wales Island,
who shared a cage with a dog to whom he became greatly
attached, while nothing could reconcile him to a cat, which
constantly jumped over his back, causing him great annoyance.
The Tarsier. The tarsier (Tarsius spectrum) is a small, kitten-
faced animal with long hind legs, which enable it to leap
like a frog. It is nocturnal in habit, and is found in Sumatra,
Borneo, and elsewhere. ©

The Aye-Aye. The aye-aye (Chiromys madagascariensis) is

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