TUPAIA JAVANICA. 
The Bangsring fell under my observation during an early period of my 
researches in Java, In traversing the Province of Blambangan, in the year 1806, I 
discovered it in the extensive forests winch cover almost entirely the eastern extre- 
mity of the Island. Constant and careful researches, since that period, have neither 
enabled me to meet with it again, nor to ascertain that the natives in other parts of 
Java are acquainted with it : and although its range may not be confined exclusively 
to the Province of Blambangan, yet, agreeably to my observations, it is extremely 
limited, both in residence and numbers. During the period above mentioned, I 
obtained but two individuals. One of these was forwarded to the Museum of the 
Honourable East India Company in 181 g, with a few remarks on its locality, food, 
and manners ; and the other formed part of the collection which was brought to 
England by me in 1819. 
I have to regret that the information which I was enabled to collect during my 
passage through the districts which the Tupaia javanica inhabits, was extremely 
scanty, and not calculated to illustrate those circumstances winch are most interest- 
ing in its economy, and on which its final arrangement will depend. Our animal 
was obtained, at one period only, in the extensive and almost inaccessible forests of 
the Province of Blambangan : here the natives described it as living on trees, and 
feeding on fruits and nuts. But this intelligence must be received with due limi- 
tation. The system of dentition evinces that the Bangsring is more adapted to 
animal than to vegetable food : to elucidate this, it is sufficient to examine carefully 
the structure of the teeth. Thus, for instance, we find in the upper jaw, on each 
side, one erect front tooth, of great length, calculated effectually to answer the 
purpose of the canine teeth, which, from a peculiarity of structure in this genus, 
and in several allied genera, both among the Insectivores and Tarsii, are shorter than 
the front teeth. The fourth grinder is provided with a laeerative point, of uncom- 
mon length ; the fifth and sixth grinders are of a compound nature ; in the middle 
of the crown they have two erect, high, acute points, which give most decidedly 
the character of carnivorous animals, while an extensive even projection (or gradus) 
on the inner side, affords a triturating surface. In the lower jaw the front teeth 
have that disposition which also occurs in the Insectivores, Tarsii, and Rodentia ; 
they are adapted both to animal and vegetable food ; but the third, fourth, and fifth 
grinders correspond with the fourth, fifth, and sixth grinders in the upper jaw, and 
are provided with high sharp points, which are found exclusively in carnivorous 
animals. Those characters in the system of dentition that are adapted to vegetable 
food, shew themselves in the first, second, and third grinders in the upper, and in 
the first and second in the lower jaw, winch, in Bangsring, are obtuse ; in the 
large triturating surface, on the internal side of the fifth and sixth grinder of the 
