The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-04-11
QUEER LITTLE BEASTS.
Discovered by Professor Garner in the
Wilds of Africr.

them as yet unknown to science. One
of the most singular of these belongs to
the Simian family, but is very low down
in the scale. 1 have specimen,
which I kept in captivity for mum Der
of months, during which time I gave
consider able attention to its habits. So
far as I am able to learn it isean entirely
new species of small group known as
slow lemurs. Up to this time there have
only been two species Of this genus
known in Africa, but the specimen in
my possession in not Identical with
either. 1 have never found a specimen
of it in any museum, either in this coun-
try or abroad. and I have found no 20
ologist who has ever seen or known one.
1t is neither potto nor an awantibo,
though 1t doubtless belongs to that
group, being included in the genus of
lemuro is called "Arcftocebus''-i. g.,
bear apes.
The native name Of this animal is
"Ikanda" and it appears to be confined
to small scope of country along the
equator in West Central Africa; It's hab-
luttt uOcS uOU 6AtoA0 w uAO SOdoOy p0p
stops at the edge of the delta lines. 1t is
uncertain how far it extends to the in
terror. found very few of the natives
of the low country that knew the native
name OF the animal, and most of them
assured me that it lived far away in the
hill country; but nearly every one Of the
negroes from the interior knew the GREAT
ure and it's name, and some of them re-
lated strange stories concerning its hab-
it's.
In his general appearance
the ikanda is like min
nature bear 1t is from this fact that the
name "arctooebus" has been conferred
upon him. Every movement is exactly
like that of bear; the ears, nose and
tail are also like those of bear. The
eyes are large, extre mely convex and
protruding; they are round. like the eyes
of lemur, and are well adapted to the
owners nocturnal habits; they are not
clear or pronounced in color, but have a
hazy or smoky look. The teeth are
small and white and the creature is not
averse to using them in q very spiteful
way. The CANNES are comical; the in
cisors look like those of human being,
except in size.
PECULIAR HANDS AND FEET.
The most singular physical features are
the hands and feet. The hand is perfect
human hand in every respect, except the
| want of an index finger. At the end of
the metscarpal bone, where the first fin
ger joins the hand. it looks exactly as if
the finger had been amputated in a most
skillful manner, leaving no scar or mark.
The thumb is quite perfect and normal
in size.
The great toe projects from the side of
the foot; but the angle between it and
the others is very much wider than it is
in the foot OF a monkey. In fact, the
thumb is almost at q right angle to the
sides of the foot. The other four toes are
in hne like those of human foot. but
the first of them, which corresponds TO
the second toe in man, is armed with a
long. sharp, black claw. The other toes
have perfect nails, like those of the
human foot. The instep is higher than
that of monkeys or apes in general.
A remarkable trait Of this animal is
the immense grasping power of the foot.
The hand possesses great prehensile pow
er, but it is not to be compared with
that of the foot. Ikanda. the native
name, is also applied to miser, and
means 'tthe grasper."
The body is covered with a dense
growth of soft hair, almost like fur. It
is dark brown in color, but somewhat
lighter on the under side of the body.
The nose is quite bare and very black.
I have never seen one of these animals
in the adult state, but apparently they
grow to be fourteen or fifteen inches in
length. The specimen I had was only
eight or nine inches long. 1.-THE body is
relatively heavy, and the limbs are short.
The ikanda is nocturnal in habit. Dur
ing the day he rarely stirs, unless is
turbed; but the natives say that he
"sleeps with his eyes open," by which
they mean to convey the. idea that he is
watchful and alert. I am inclined to
doubt this, for he will not flee at the
approach OIL DdF1N- Ii Q0 nus OCCASION TO
move about during the day, his motion
is very slow and deli 5erate: at night,
however, he moves with little more
speed.
SOME OF THEIR HABITS.
While sleeping they crouch in the fork
of tree, selecting a bough which they
can grasp with the feet. They always
lie upon the upper side of the limb, with
the head toward the top Of the tree but
they sometimes rest the body on the base
of the spinal column, stretching out the
arms at full length, and resting the ohm
on the breast In this position they
will sit for hours.
AS rule they walk on all tours, but
they have halt of standing erect on
their hind legs. They rarely do this,
however, without holding by their hands
to some object.
In eating they always take their food
In one hand. just as child would; and
it If happens to be anything that sticks
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