TUPAIA JAVANICA. 



posterior numerous sharp protuberances of different length project. The resem- 

 blance of the grinders of Tupaia and My gale is more clearly shewn by a comparison 

 of the Plate annexed to the Continuation of Mr. Fred. Cuvier's excellent Essay 

 on the Characters for the Genera of Mammalia, contained in the Xllth Volume of 

 the " Annales du Museum," with the Illustrations of the Genus Tupaia given in 

 the present Number of these Zoological Researches, than by a long description. 

 Mygale is also the only genus among the Insectivores which agrees with our animal, 

 in having in both jaws single well-defined canine teeth ; but the incisors of Tupaia 

 differ essentially from those of aU other animals of this famUy, as wiU appear in the 

 sequel. As far as regards the rostrum of Tupaia, it should be observed, that although 

 it is long and tapering, the upper jaw projects but slightly beyond the lower, and is 

 not extended into a naked proboscis, which constitutes a peculiar character as well 

 in Sorex and Mygale, as in other genera of this family. Of other characters it should 

 be noticed, that the eyes in most genera of the Insectivores are minute, or scarcely 

 perceptible, while in Tupaia they are large and prominent. The structure of the 

 external ear is also entirely different in ovu- animal ; in Sorex, for instance, in which 

 this organ is most developed, the antitragus is enlarged to such a degree as to close 

 the meatus auditorius, while the helix has a similar disposition, and can be folded 

 over it as a double membrane. In Tupaia, on the contrary, it is the tragus which is 

 so constructed as to afford a covering to the external passage, while the antitragus is 

 a simple eminence in the cavity of the ear ; the helix constitutes a narrow border, 

 forming an extensive circuit about the auditory passage, and can only be elevated to 

 regulate the admission of sound, without affording an additional covering, as it does 

 in Sorex. Tupaia is further destitute of those glands which in Sorex and Mygale 

 are placed in the sides of the body, or at the root of the tail, and which by their 

 odoriferous secretion constitute a very peculiar character. The form and habit of 

 the body, the length and structure of the extremities, and the broadness of the tail, 

 give to Tupaia a physiognomy entirely ' different from that of the Insectivores 

 hitherto known. It is this external appearance which has led to its association with 

 Squirrels. But a more accurate examination of these animals shews that they differ 

 greatly in those characters which constitute a natural affinity ; and to explain this 

 difference, it is sufficient to compare the form of the head, the mechanism of the 

 feet, the structure of the eyes and ears, and particularly the system of dentition. 

 In the latter, Tupaia exhibits considerable affinity to the genus Tarsius. This appears 

 not only in the peculiar character of the fi-ont teeth, but also in that of the grinders, 

 which are covered with high projecting points, separated from each other by longi- 

 tudinal and transverse grooves. A comparison of the teeth of the Tarsius bancanus, 

 as given in the Plate of Illustrations to the Second Number of these Researches, with 

 those of Tupaia javanica, represented on the Plate annexed to this, will exemplify 



