Marsh Collection, Peabody Museum. 25 



they had not departed very widely from the parent stock at 

 the close of the Eocene. One of the earliest recognizable 

 characters in the dentition by which they can be distinguished 

 will undoubtedly be found in the reduction in the last molar. 

 It is doubtful, moreover, whether in the history of this phylum 

 the hallux and pollex have ever been opposable. 



Section Paleopithecini. 



Tarsius spectrum is the only living member of this group, 

 and on this account its skeletal organization has an unusual 

 interest for the paleontologist. In many particulars it still 

 retains the generalized features which characterized its 

 Eocene ancestors, while in others it has added some struc- 

 tural modifications, due doubtless to adaptation to slightly 

 different modes of life. These characters relate to the loss of 

 one pair of lower incisors, the development of a bony partition 

 between the orbital and temporal fossae, the reduction of the 

 fibula and its coossification with the tibia, the grooving and 

 broadening of the astragalus, and lastly the great elongation of 

 the calcaneum and navicular. These modifications of the hind 

 limbs are evidently in relation with, and the result of, saltatory 

 habits, since Tarsius in common with all the lemurs having 

 elongate tarsals is a powerful leaper. 



The arboreal habits of the Primates have prevented in large 

 measure the development of any great cursorial powers on the 

 part of any of the species, but the habit of leaping from branch 

 to branch has proved of manifest advantage to some of them 

 in the capture of their prey, for in a number of the living 

 species of lemurs this habit is almost as pronounced and highly 

 developed as in certain groups of the Kodentia, the kangaroos, 

 and others. According to Mr. Bartlett, late Superintendent 

 of the London Zoological Gardens, Garnett's Galago is an 

 especially active leaper. In speaking of this species, in a let- 

 ter to Duncan quoted in Cassell's Natural History, Vol. I, p. 

 215, he says : " The other night I took an opportunity of letting 

 one of these interesting creatures — Garnett's Galago — have his 

 liberty in my room, and I assure you I was well repaid by his per- 

 formance. Judge my utter astonishment to see him on the floor, 

 jumping about tcpright like a Kangaroo, only with much greater 

 speed and intelligence. The little one sprung from the ground 

 on to the legs of tables, arms of chairs, and indeed on to any 

 piece of furniture in the room ; in fact, he was more like a 

 sprite that the best pantomimist I ever saw. What surprised 

 me most was his entire want of fear of Dogs and Cats. These 

 he boldly met and jumped on at once, and in the most playful 

 manner hugged and tumbled about with them, rolling over 



