42 STUDIES IN LIFE AND SENSE. 



muzzle also is distinctly pointed, and the face is covered with hair, 

 unlike that of the more typical apes. The tail varies in length. 

 Whilst disappearance and modification of the tail is witnessed in 

 the highest apes, and in the highest life we know, that of man himself, 

 this feature may also be seen exemplified amongst these lowest of the 

 monkey-group. Thus, whilst the lemurs proper, such as the " Ruffed 

 lemur" and " White-fronted" species, possess a long woolly tail, the 

 Loris possesses a short tail, whilst the genus Nycticebus is tailless. 



Certain peculiarities of structure mark the lemurs in addition to the 

 general characteristics just mentioned. Prominent ears and large eyes. 

 are amongst their characteristic possessions. Their teeth vary greatly 

 from the human standard, which is represented in the typical Old 

 World monkeys. But it is at the same time a peculiar fact that in 

 one little lemur (Tarsius) found in Celebes and Borneo, a distinctly 

 human character is seen in the want of any interruption or interval 

 between the teeth of each jaw. Such intervals are common enough 

 in quadrupeds, but save the Tarsier just mentioned, and an extinct 

 form Anoplotherium there is no other known quadruped which 

 exhibits this peculiarity. The Tarsier and certain other lemurs also 

 show a marked peculiarity of structure in that their ankle-bones are 

 much elongated, after the fashion seen in the hind-limbs of frogs and 

 their neighbours. If the foot of a quadruped is lengthened, it is usually 

 the instep-bones which become modified so as to increase the 

 structure. In a few lemurs, as in the frog-group, however, the ankle- 

 bones themselves undergo the process of alteration. It is thus a 

 curious fact that for a parallel to this peculiarity of lemur life we 

 must go backwards to the amphibian class. Such a step, however, 

 it should be noted, by no means implies relationship between quad- 

 rupeds and frogs. It merely presents the naturalist with another 

 example of those coincidences in structure which research is con- 

 tinually bringing under our notice, and which have probably arisen 

 entirely independently of each other, through possible similarities in 

 the laws or tendencies which have directed the development of living 

 beings in the past 



One of the most curious forms included amongst the Lemurs, 

 demands a special notice. This is the Aye-Aye or Chiromys of 

 Madagascar, which was described in 1780 by Sonnerat. In 1844 it 

 was practically re- described, and in the latter year was brought to 

 Paris. Its anatomy has been specially investigated by Professor 

 Owen. The chief peculiarities of the Aye- Aye are found in its teeth, 

 which differ from those of all other lemurs and all other monkeys 

 indeed, and resemble those of the Rodents or " Gnawers." Only 

 one pair of front or cutting teeth exist in each jaw, but these teeth, 

 like the front teeth of Rodents, and the tusks of the elephant, spring 

 from " permanent " pulps. They thus grow throughout life ; such a 



