8 THE DESCENT OF THE PKIMATES 



say, the five-toed Eocene Condjlarthra and the 

 modern horse may be bridged over. 



In the case under consideration, the importance 

 of Anaptomorphus and Tarsius w^ill be thoroughly 

 understood as soon as we call upon comparative 

 anatomy and embryology to furnish us with cer- 

 tain crucial facts, by which their exact position in 

 the mammalian system may be more definitely 

 determined. 



In order to obtain material for studying the 

 embryology of Tarsius and other mammals, I un- 

 dertook some years ago a voyage to the Indian 

 Archipelago. I did not succeed, however, in pro- 

 curing one live specimen of Tarsius during my 

 seven months' stay in Java, Sumatra, and Borneo. 

 Nevertheless, I left behind me drawings and de- 

 scriptions of the animal, fluids for the preserva- 

 tion of its uterus, and full instructions. I have 

 since been fortunate enough, thanks to the active 

 co-operation of friends and correspondents, to 

 obtain an unbroken developmental series of this 

 rare mammal. More than four hundred and 

 fifty stages, which range between the moment of 

 fecundation and that of birth, are already in my 

 possession ; it is upon these that the conclusions 

 which I will place before you are based. 



Hitherto both Tarsius and Anaptomorphus 



