CHAP. IV] THE GENERAL ANATOMY OF THE TARSII 



103 



Lemurs. (Among the latter, certain less typical forms, such as 

 Loris, make some approach to Tarsius.) Some of these points of 

 contrast are foreshadowed by the form of the head and by the 

 physiognomy in general. Considering the latter first, we notice 

 that shortening of the jaws is characteristic of Tarsius. But as 

 regards the nose, the skeleton fails to indicate the distinctive 

 feature of this part of the face, viz. the wide separation of the 

 nostrils, which are directed laterally away from each other. 



In accordance with expectation, the orbital cavities are large 

 to the point of grotesqueness. The space between them is re- 



Fig. 58. 



Fig. 59. 



Pig, 58. Tarsius spectrum. The cranium in profile (nat. size). 

 Fig. 59. Tarsius spectrum. Frontal view of the cranium. (x2.) 



duced to a mere film-like septum recalling the conditions in a 

 bird's skull. The cribriform plate of the ethmoid does not exist 

 as such, and it is stated (Burmeister) that the olfactory nerve- 

 filaments pass to the nasal fossa by a single canal on each side. 



The form of the palate differs from that of the Lemurs in its 

 proportions, for it is short, and, though wide posteriorly, it becomes 

 suddenly narrow at the level of the second post-canine tooth. 



The glenoid fossa appears to be slightly deeper than in the 

 Lemurs. The tympanic region provides good evidence of the 

 distinctive position of Tarsius. For although the enormous bulla 

 is provided by the " endotympanic " element (as in Lemur), the 



