:re tarsius. 
249 
are of a flesh tint, and the forehead, face, and nose are reddish, and there is a black eye-streak. 
The name is derived from the fact of the “ tarsus,” or ankle-bones, being remarkably developed, 
the heel-bones being very long. There is but one kind as yet known, and it can be distin- 
guished from all the other Lemuroids by the peculiarity of its front teeth. There are four 
upper ones and only two lower, and the inner pair of the upper jaw are much larger than the outer. 
There are four canine teeth ; and there are twelve molar teeth in each jaw, six being false molars. 
These teeth are very crowded, and there is scarcely any space between them. The ends of the 
fingers and toes are well supplied with pads, which assist the animal in its jumping and clinging, 
THE TARSIUS. (Animal after Burmeister, but modified from si)ccimens in the British Museum.) 
and the second and third toes have short, sharp, and pointed claws, which stand nearly erect. The 
nails of the hands are scale-like and triangular, and this is the case with those of the great and 
outer toes. 
The cavity for the eye, or orbit, is unlike that of any other of the Lemuroida, for it is 
closed behind, and does not open there on to the temple ; this is, therefore, very characteristic. 
But the globular-shaped head, although remarkable, is not quite so distinctive. The most 
striking anatomical feature, and indeed that which is observable in the outside shape, is the dis- 
proportionate length of the heel-bones and foot to the lower leg and thigh. It has a very small 
side-bone to the leg (fibula), and it does not reach to the ankle. Oddly enough, the third finger 
of the hand is the longest, and the second and fourth are nearly equal, presenting a difference 
with regard to the other Lemuroida. So that this small, active creature, with a Monkey-like 
appearance, has more resemblance to the Insectivora, and differs very considerably from the rest 
