long like any ordinary quadruped. We caught it
just as it was about to ascend another tree, when again it received
several heavy blows. Even then, however, it seemed not to be dead. Ali
coming up, pinned it to the ground with a forked stick. We then saw
that it was a creature about the size of a cat, and that it had broad
membranes, extending completely round its body to the extremities of the
toes, as also to the end of its tail. This was of considerable length,
and by the way it curled round a stick we placed near it we found that
it was prehensile. The creature we now saw had a young one clinging to
its breast, a miserable little wrinkled, hairless monster, and
apparently as yet unable to see. Its fur was beautifully soft, almost
like velvet. The little one had escaped injury; indeed, the mother was
evidently still alive.

Mr Hooker at once recognised it as a flying lemur, the learned name for
which is _Galeo-pithecus_. Ali having covered up its head, undertook to
carry it home, as Mr Hooker hoped it would recover.

"Your uncle will be delighted to have it in his menagerie," said Mr
Hooker; "and I believe that, unless we cut the creature's head off,
nothing will deprive it of life. So I have no doubt that it will be in
good health again by to-morrow morning."

We had not got far after this adventure when I heard a curious noise
close to us, which I thought must proceed from some bird. It sounded
like "Tokay, tokay;" almost, indeed, like a human voice. I drew Mr
Hooker's attention to it. He also thought it must be some bird, till
Ali coming up at once informed him that it was a lizard, and that he had
often heard the creatures thus talk. What it said, he declared he could
not tell, but he was very positive that it did talk some language.
Perhaps some day a person who did understand it might come that way.

As may be supposed, we were cordially welcomed on our return, especially
by the Frau, who was highly delighted with the honey and wax which we
brought her.

"Oh! now you shall have honey for your breakfasts, and wax candles when
you sit in the house to read or stuff the birds and beasts; though I
cannot tell what use they are after you have taken the meat out of them,
or wherefore you get so many skins, and pack them up in the boxes," she
remarked.

The Frau was no naturalist.

CHAPTER THIRTY.

WALTER DISAPPEARS--NARRATIVE CONTINUED BY EMILY.

I had not forgotten my uncle's wish to obtai