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Show 1879.] MR. G. A. SHAW ON THE HABITS OF LEMURS. 135 tail, which unfortunately still continues, I presume, had it been native forest, it would under the same circumstances have slept through the winter. It makes a nest of leaves or dry grass, by carefully scooping a hollow big enough to contain itself, and then, after getting in, covering itself with the loose leaves or grass. The native tradition also confirms m y opinion with regard to its hibernation. They say that it hides in the hollow trees in the winter. It appears to be a very uncommon animal, even in Madagascar, as this is the only specimen I have been able to obtain, although I kept a man in the forest for two months seeking for one after I had obtained this one. Of course, the fact of their sleeping all day and only feeding at night adds to the difficulty of catching them. It was easily tamed, and proved very affectionate ; comes when called by name, and enjoys being fondled and rubbed. 4. THE DWARF LEMUR1. This is another species of nocturnal animal, and is the most diminutive Lemur with which I have become acquainted. They inhabit a belt of forest-land stretching from the eastern forest into the heart of Betsileo, a few miles north of Fianarantsda, where they are tolerably abundant. They live on the tops of the highest trees, choosing invariably the smallest branches, where they collect a quantity of dried leaves, and make what from below looks like a bird's nest. So close is the resemblance, that it requires good eyes to distinguish the one from the other. Their food consists of fruit and insects and most probably honey. I have frequently seen them catching the flies that have entered their cage fur the honey ; and I have supplied them with moths and butterflies, which they have devoured witb avidity. They are extremely shy and wild. Although I have had between thirty and forty caged at different times, I have never succeeded in taming one. They are also very quarrelsome, and fight very fiercely, uttering a most piercing penetrating sound, somewhat resembling a very shrill whistle. The teeth are very minute, but exceedingly sharp ; and when they bite they hold so tenaciously that it requires a good shake and knock to make them let go. These Lemurs can leap better than No. 3: but still their usual mode of progression is on all fours; and when running up any branches which they can grasp with their hands, they are very nimble indeed, very much more so than when on the ground. They are very strong in their hind legs and hands. I have often seen them swing themselves down from their perch holding by the hind hands, grasp their food in the two fore hands, and then gradually draw themselves back again into their former position on the perch. In this they are assisted by the tail only as a balance and not as an additional grasping-member. And although the tail is of considerable assistance when stretching out from one branch to another, by being partly twisted round the branch, it is certainly not prehensile in the same sense as some monkeys' tails are. 1 [Microcebus smithii (Gray).-P. L. S.] |