They make true nests, like those of the crow, which consist of small interlaced twigs, in the midst of which there is a depression, with a bed of hairs for the young.
All the Cheirogales come, of course, from Madagascar, and they appear to inhabit the northern part of the island, and the east and west coasts, but not the south. They complete—with the exception of the curious Aye-Aye, which will be described at the end of this notice of the Lemuroida—the Madagascar Lemurs, and it is a point of interest to know that they are the only Madagascar Lemuroids which are pretty closely allied, so far as construction and shape are concerned, with any of the African kinds, which will now demand attention. Indeed, they and the Galagos of Africa have much in common, and are readily distinguished from the Indris and other Lemuroids already noticed. For instance, both have the long heel, or ankle-bone, the same number of teeth, and both have four teats, or mammæ—two on the breast, and two on the groin. They have no ruffs and no ear-tufts, and their brain is more triangular in shape than that of any other of the Lemuroida.
MAHOLI GALAGO AND THE SENEGAL GALAGO.
CHAPTER XVI.
THE LEMUROIDA (concluded)—THE GALAGOS[129]
[THE GALAGOS]—[DEMIDOFF’S GALAGO AND THE MOUSE GALAGO]—[THE SENEGAL GALAGO]—[THE SENNAAR GALAGO]—[THE MAHOLI GALAGO]—[THE GRAND, OR THICK-TAILED GALAGO]—[MONTEIRO’S GALAGO]—[THE AFRICAN SLOW LEMURS]—[VAN BOSMAN’S POTTO]—[GENUS ARCTOCEBUS, OR BEAR MONKEY TRIBE]—[THE ANGWÁNTIBO]—[THE ASIATIC SLOW LEMUROIDS]—[THE SLOW LORIS]—[THE SLENDER LORIS]—[GENUS TARSIUS]—[THE SPECTRE TARSIER, OR TARSIUS]—[THE MALMAG]—[GENUS CHEIROMYS]—[THE AYE-AYE]—The Puzzle of the Naturalists—Opinions regarding it—Specimen Examined by Owen—Feeding—Teeth—Hands—Classification of the Lemuroida—Geographical Distribution
THESE Galagos are most interesting, lively creatures, and they have wonderful ears, which are long, large, and elliptical, and can be furled up if the animals become frightened. Moreover, they have a long heel-bone, and the tail, often bushy, either equals or is longer than the trunk.