66 TAPAIAD^E. 



the points which rest on the ground are studded with little transversely- 

 curved ridges, or duplications similar to those observed under the toes of 

 some Geckotidce, which fully account for the precision, the aplomb, with 

 which these animals perform the most astounding leaps from below, barely 

 touching with their soles the point cTappui above. In a cage the Tupaia 

 will continue for hours vaulting from below, back-downwards, poise itself 

 for an instant, continuing back- down wards under the horizontal roof, and 

 regain the point of starting, and thus describe a circle, the diameter of 

 which may be three or four times the length of the animal, in far shorter 

 time than is required for the description." 



Besides the species referred to above, T. javanica, T. tana, and T. 

 murina, are on record, respectively from Java, Sumatra, and Borneo. 



There are two peculiar Eastern forms of Insectivora, which make some 

 approach to Tupaia, but cannot be included at present in this family. 

 Ptilocercus Lowii, from Sumatra, has the tail scaly, but some long hairs at 

 the tip arranged like the barbs of a feather. Hylomys, with two species, 

 suillus from Java, and Peguensis, Blyth, from Tenasserim, is stated to be 

 intermediate between Tupaia and Sorex. Macroscelides is an African 

 form of uncertain position, but from its long hair, large eyes, and 

 diurnal habits, makes some approach to the Tree-shrews. 



