An introduction to the study of mammals living and extinct / by William Henry Flower and Richard Lydekker.

Date:
1891
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An introduction to the study of mammals living and extinct / by William Henry Flower and Richard Lydekker. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

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    developed and distinct from the tibia. All the digits of l)oth feet with pointed rather comjjressed claws, except the hallux, which has a flattened nail. Middle digit of the hand excessively attenuated. Vertebrae: C 7, D 12, L 6, S 3, C 27. Ghironiys}—This family, like the last, is formed for the recep- tion of a single genus, Chiromys,'^ containing one species, C. mada- gascaricnsis, the Aye-aye, an animal about the size of a cat, Avith a broad rounded head, short face, and large and naked ears. It has very large hands and long thin fingers Avith pointed claws, one of Avhich (the middle or third) is remark- able for its extreme slenderness. The foot resembles that of the other lemurs in its large opposable hallux, with a flat nail, but all the other toes haA^e pointed compressed claAvs, like that of the second toe in the Lemurince and the second and third in the Tarsiidce. Tail long and bushy. General colour dark broAvn, the outer fur being long and rather loose, A^dth a AvooUy undercoat. Mamm« tAVO, ingiiinal in position. It is a native of Madagascar, Avhere it was discovered by Sonnerat in 1780. The specimen brought to Paris by that traveller was the only one knoAvn until 1860. Since then many others have been obtained, and they may frequently be seen living in the gardens of the Zoological Society of London. Like so many of the Lemurs, the Aye-aye is completely nocturnal in its habits, living either alone or in pairs, chiefly in the bamboo forests. Observations upon captive specimens have led to the conclusion that it feeds princi- pally on succulent juices, especially of the sugar-cane, Avhich it obtains by tearing^ open the hard Avoody circumference of the stalk Avith its strong incisor teeth. It is said also to devour certain species of Avood-boring caterpillars, which it obtains by first cutting doAvn Avith its teeth upon their burroAvs, and then picking them out of their retreat Avith the claw of its attenuated middle finger. It ^ Cuvier, Table de Class. in Ze'poiw cVAnat. Comp. vol. i. (1800). - It was first named JDauhenionia by Geoffl-oy; but this name was withdraw]! by its author in favour of Chiromys, as it liad been previously given to a genus in tlie vegetable kingdom. This would not, however, constitute preoccuiration according to the modern rules of nomenclature. Fw. 331.—Skull of Aye-aye {Chiromys madagascariensis). x i Mus. Roy. Coll. Surgeons.