THE TARSIER AND THE AYE-AYE 239 



THE TARSIER (Tarsius spectrum) 



Takes the first of its Latin names from the elongation of the bones of the upper 

 part of the ankle {tarsus), after the manner we have noticed as occurring in 

 the mouse-lemurs and galagos, and its second from its spectre-like and ghostly 

 appearance. It is a native of various islands in the Malayan region, being found, 

 among others, in Celebes, Sumatra, Borneo, the Philippines, and some others. It 

 has never, we believe, been exhibited alive in this country, and since accounts at first 

 hand from those who have seen animals in their native countries are always 

 valuable, we commence our notice of this animal by quoting from Dr. Guillemard, 

 who received a living specimen while at Celebes, and, in his Cruise of the Marchesa, 

 writes as follows : ' ' The most interesting addition to our menagerie was a tiny 

 lemuroid animal (T. spectrum), brought to us by a native, by whom it was said to 

 have been caught upon the mainland. These little creatures, which are of arboreal 

 and nocturnal habits, are about the size of a small rat, and are covered with 

 remarkably thick fur, which is very soft. The tail is long, and covered with 

 hair at the root and tip, while the middle portion of it is nearly bare. The eyes are 

 enormous, and indeed seem, together with the equally large ears, to constitute the 

 greater part of the face, for the jaw and nose are very small, and the latter is set 

 on, like that of a pug dog, almost at a right angle. The hind limb at once attracts 

 attention from the great length of the tarsal [ankle] bones, and the hand is equally 

 noticeable for its length, the curious claws with which it is provided, and the ex- 

 traordinary disc-shaped palps on the palmar surface of the fingers, which probably 

 enable the animal to retain its hold in almost any position. This weird-looking 

 creature we were unable to keep long in captivity, for we could not get it to eat the 

 cockroaches which were almost the only food with which we could supply it. 

 It remained still by day in its darkened cage, but at night, especially if disturbed, it 

 would spring vertically upwards in an odd mechanical manner, not unlike the 

 hopping of a flea. On the third day it found a grave in a pickle-bottle." 



If we add that the general color of the fur is usually some shade of brownish 

 fawn, with the face and forehead reddish, and a dark ring round the enormous eyes, 

 the above account gives a very good idea of the general appearance of the tarsier,* 

 the length of whose body is about six inches. This account does not, however, show 

 us any reasons why this animal should be separated from the typical lemurs as the 

 representative of a separate family; and we must therefore proceed to the considera- 

 tion of this point. 



Now, the elongation of the bones of the upper half of the ankle evidently allies 

 the tarsier to the galagos and mouse-lemurs ; and if the other characteristics of 

 the animal approximated to them, there would be no reason why it should not be 

 included in the family. It happens, however, that there are very important differ- 

 ences connected with the teeth, and it is on these zoologists largely rely in assigning 

 the tarsier to a distinct family. In describing the teeth of the lemurs it has 



*In Dr. Guillemard's figure, reproduced on p. 245, the ears are longer than in our heading. 



