TUPAIA JAVANICA. 



of a darker colour, and shining, are dispersed among the rest : the length of the 

 hairs gradually decreases from the forehead towards the nose, and on the extremities 

 towards the feet. In all the species of Tupaia a considerable uniformity prevails in 

 the distribution of the coloiu-s ; the upper parts have a dark, the lower a lighter tint, 

 and a regular narrow streak extends from the neck over the shoulder. In the 

 Bangsring the upper parts are brown, slightly diversified with gray, of different 

 shades ; the lower parts are dirty white, with a slight tint of grayish ; the tail agrees 

 with the upper parts, and the scapular line, which is nearly an inch long, agrees 

 with the neck. The mixture of colours which is observed in the upper parts, is 

 produced by alternate bands of gray, and blackish in the longer hairs. The extre- 

 mity of the nose is brown, and the claws have a horny hue. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Inches. Lines. 



Length of the body and head, from the extremity of the nose 



to the root of the taU 6 5 



the head 1 9 



the rostrum 8 



the neck 8 



the tail 6 5 



the anterior extremities 2 2 



the posterior extremities 2 6^ 



the tarsus alone 1 % 



Although Tupaia has been placed among the Insectivores, which, agreeably to 

 the classification of the celebrated Cuvier, constitute the second family in the order 

 of Carnassiers, its arrangement in a natural system requires further consideration^ 

 It is necessary for this purpose that we should be more fully acqviainted with its 

 internal structure, and with its manners and habits, than we are at present ; for 

 although in certain characters it approaches near to the genera Sorex and Mygale 

 among the Insectivores, yet in others it strikingly resembles Tarsius among the 

 Quadrumanes, and withal it is masked by the external form and appearance of a 

 Squirrel. I can at present only exhibit its resemblance to each of the families above 

 mentioned, and enuinerate those characters that belong to it exclusively. 



In the first place, Tvipaia agrees with the animals of the second family of the 

 Insectivores, in the elongated form of its rostrum, and in certain peculiarities of its 

 dentition. In the latter it is most nearly allied to the genus Mygale. This is pro- 

 vided with seven grinders in the upper, and six grinders in the lower jaw, of which 

 the anterior teeth are simple, consisting of single points, while from the crown of the 



