2 3 ^ 
LEMURS. 
The Tarster (Tarsius spectrum). 
Takes the first of its Latin names from the elongation of the bones of the upper 
part of the ankle (tarsus), after the manner we have noticed as occurring in 
the mouse-lemurs and galagos, and its second from its spectre-like and ghostly 
appearance. It is a native of various islands in the Malayan region, being found, 
among others, in Celebes, Sumatra, Borneo, the Philippines, and some others. It 
has never, we believe, been exhibited alive in this country, and since accounts at 
first hand from those who have seen animals in their native countries are always 
valuable, we commence our notice of this animal by quoting from Dr. Guillemard, 
who received a living specimen while at Celebes, and, in his Cruise of the Marchesa, 
writes as follows:—“ The most interesting addition to our menagerie was a tiny 
lemuroid animal (T. spectrum), brought to us by a native, by whom it was said to 
have been caught upon the mainland. These little creatures, which are of arboreal 
and nocturnal habits, are about the size of a small rat, and are covered with 
remarkably thick fur, which is very soft. The tail is long, and covered with hair 
at the root and tip, while the middle portion of it is nearly bare. The eyes are 
enormous, and indeed seem, together with the equally large ears, to constitute the 
greater part of the face, for the jaw and nose are very small, and the latter is set 
on, like that of a pug dog, almost at a right angle. The hind-limb at once attracts 
attention from the great length of the tarsal [ankle] bones, and the hand is equally 
noticeable for its length, the curious claws with which it is provided, and the 
extraordinary disc-shaped palps on the palmar surface of the fingers, which 
probably enables the animal to retain its hold in almost any position. This weird¬ 
looking creature we were unable to keep long in captivity, for we could not get it 
to eat the cockroaches which were almost the only food with which we could 
supply it. It remained still by day in its darkened cage, but at night, especially 
if disturbed, it would spring vertically upwards in an odd mechanical manner, not 
unlike the hopping of a flea. On the third day it found a grave in a pickle-bottle.” 
If we add that the general colour of the fur is usually some shade of brownish- 
fawn, with the face and forehead reddish, and a dark ring round the enormous 
eyes, the above account gives a very good idea of the general appearance of the 
tarsier, 1 the length of whose body is about 6 inches. This account does not, 
however, show us any reasons why this animal should be separated from the 
typical lemurs as the representative of a separate family; and we must therefore 
proceed to the consideration of this point. 
Now, the elongation of the bones of the upper half of the ankle evidently 
allies the tarsier to the galagos and mouse-lemurs; and if the other characters of the 
animal approximated to them there would be no reason why it should not be 
included in the family. It happens, however, that there are very important differ¬ 
ences connected with the teeth, and it is on these zoologists largely rely in assigning 
the tarsier to a distinct family. In describing the teeth of the lemurs it has 
been shown that the middle pair of incisors in the upper jaw are separated from 
one another by an intervening space, and it may be added here that they are of 
small size. If, however, we examine the skull of a tarsier, we shall find that these 
1 In Dr. Guillemard’s figure, reproduced on p. 244, the ears are longer than in our heading. 
