20 ALLEN'S NATURALIST'S LIBRARY. 



The Tarsiers have nineteen dorsal and lumbar vertebrae 

 together, and twenty-seven in the tail. The humerus presents 

 a perforation (the entepicondylar foramen) at its lower inner 

 side, and another nearly in the centre above the hinge. The 

 femur is more than twice the length of the arm-bone ; the 

 lower half of the slender fibula is co-ossified with the tibia, 

 while two of the tarsal, or ankle-bones (the calcantum and 

 naviculare), are remarkably elongated, thus giving to the hind- 

 limb of these animals the singular conformation from which 

 they derive their name. The large intestine is not convoluted 

 upon itself as in so many of the Lemurs, nor is there a caecum 

 at the junction of its smaller and larger portions. 



I. THE SPECTRAL TARSIER. TARS1US TARSIUS. 



Lemur tarsius, Erxl., Syst. Regn. Anim., Mamm., p. 71 (1777). 

 Tarsius spectrum, Gcoffr., Ann. Mus., xix., p. 168 (1812) ; 



Dahlb., Studia, p. 231, tab. n. 

 Lemur spectrum, Pallas, Nova Sp. Glir. Ord., p. 275, note 



(1778). 



(Plat el I.) 



Characters. On the upper lip, sides of nostrils, and over 

 the eyes long, delicate black hairs (vibrissa) ; hair on nose 

 very short, longer in front of ears and at angles of mouth. 

 Fur of body generally thick, woolly, the basal two thirds slate- 

 grey, the terminal third brownish-yellow. Face to forehead 

 fawn-brown, somewhat darker around and between the enor- 

 mous liquid brown eyes. Top and back of head and shoulders 

 of a more uniform and darker shade ; rest of back apparently 

 mottled, owing to the light-tipped hairs of that region gather- 

 ing into locks. Under side of body, inside of arms and legs 

 paler. Tail darker brown, rufous at base of upper side. Size 

 not exceeding that of a small Rat. 



