CHARACTERS OF THE LEMURS AXD TARSIUS. 



39 



" Unterzunge." His figure represents this structure as un 

 undivided semielliptical lamina witli evenly denticulated margin. 

 This does not agree with my observations (text-fig. 11, C-E). 



It has been suggested that the sublingua of the Lemurs acts as 

 a tooth-brush to clean the porrect, close-set, and comb-like series 

 of anterior mandibular teeth. Lemurs certainly use these teeth 

 to comb their own fur and that of their companions. I have 

 never seen them employ these teeth for any other purpose, and 



Text-fisfure 11. 



A. Side view of the tongue of Chiromys. 



B. Lower view of the same. 



C. Lower view of the tongue of Tarsius raised from the floor of the mouth. 



D. The same extracted with the frenal lamellifi and the fringe attached. 



E. Side view of the tongue of Tarsius, showing the comparatively slight 



differentiation of the sublingua and the well-developed frenal lamella; with 

 backwardly extending lobulated fringe. 



since there is frequently a rapid movement of the tongue after 

 the combing action, I do not doubt that the suggestion as to 

 the function of the sublingua is correct ; and the suggestion is 

 strengthened by the structure of the sublingua in Chiromys, 

 where the median keel ends in a firm hook well adapted to all 

 appearance for removing particles lodged between the two rodent 

 incisor teeth of the lower jaw. 



