CHARACTERS OF THE LEMURS AND TARSIUS. 



25 



Burmeister figures some vibrissa in front of the ear. These do 

 not, however, correspond in. position to the genal tuft of the 

 Galagos (text-fig. 2, A). 



The prevalence in most orders of Mammalia of the complement 

 of tufts described above as occurring in Chirogaleus suggests that 

 the absence of one or more of the tufts is a derivative and not 

 a primitive feature. In this respect the Lorises, Pottos, and 

 Tarsius are more specialised than the Mascarene Lemurs. 



The Carpal vibrissa? in Lemurs have been studied by Beddard 

 and Bland-Sutton. Confirming and extending their observations, 

 I may add that I have found these tufts of tactile bristles in 

 Chirogaleus major, Hapalemur griseus, and in examples of the 

 following species of Lemur, namely, catta, variegatus, macaco, 

 mongoz, coronatus, rufiventer, albifrons, and many of the species, 

 subspecies or varieties grouped round the last. They are not 

 always easy to detect in the thick fur, and sometimes appear to 

 be wanting ; but in such cases I suspect their absence is due to 

 moulting or to artificial removal by rubbing. I have not found 

 them in Chiromys, Nycticebus, Perodicticus, or Tarsius ; and, since 

 Bland-Sutton also noticed their absence in Perodicticus, it may 

 be inferred that their absence is characteristic of the Asiatic and 

 African lemuroids*. 



The prevalence of these vibrissa? in many orders of Mammals 

 suggests that they are a primitive Metatherian and Eutherian 

 character, a suggestion which involves the conclusion that their 

 absence in the above-mentioned Lemuroid genera is due to 

 suppression and is a derivative feature. 



The Glands of the Fore Limb. 



In Lemur catta, but in no other species referred to the genus 

 Lemur, there is a peculiar gland on the fore-leg, which was 

 figured and described by Biand-Sutton f and also figured by 

 Milne-Edwards and Grandidier. A strip of black naked skin 

 extends from the palm of the hand over the wrist up the distal 

 third of the corresponding surface of the fore-leg. It ends 

 proximally in a smooth elliptical area, which is present even in 

 the newly-born young (text-fig. 3, A). In adult males the 

 elliptical area is raised into a swollen cushion-like pad composed 

 of white tissue, fatty in appearance and consistency and covered 

 with black skin. On the ulnar side of the pad a large, erect, 

 solid horny excrescence is developed (text-fig. 3, B). This -varies 

 in size apparently with age ; its apex is sometimes bifid, but 

 generally simple, and it is sometimes present on one limb and 



* I have failed to detect the carpal vibrissse on dried skins of Indris and Propi- 

 thecus; and in both these genera the interrainal tuft appears to be absent. Also 

 in the one skin of Indris available for examination the genal tufts are wanting, 

 whereas in a skin of Propithecus diadema these tufts are well developed and set 

 low down on the cheek as in Lemuridse. 



f Proc. Zool. Soc. 1887, pp. 369-372. In 1863 Gray pointed out the presence of 

 this structure in L. catta and its absence- in other species. 



