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LONG-SNOUTED TARSIPES.

Tue tarsipes, so named on account of its feet having
a considerable resemblance to those of a little animal found
in the Indian Islands, and called the tarsier, is one of
the most interesting of animal forms recently discovered.
But one species of the genus is known, and that inhabits
the west coast of Australia.

This little quadruped is of the size and form of a
mouse, but with a long, slender, and pointed muzzle.
The eyes are small, of a black colour, and very promi-
nent. The tail is longer than the head and body taken
together, and clothed with small stiff hairs, like the tail
of a mouse. The colour of the fur varies in different
individuals, but is generally grey, more or less suffused
with rust-colour on the upper parts of the body.

It is stated by Mr. Gould, that ‘the tarsipes is gen-
erally found in all situations suited to its existence, from
Swan River to King George’s Sound, but from its rarity,
and the difficulty with which it is procured, the natives
only brought me fonr specimens; one of these, a female,
I kept alive for several months, and it became so tame
ax to allow itself to be caressed in the hand without
evincing any fear, or making any attempt to escape. It
slept during the day, and became active during the
night: when intent upon catching flies, it would sit
quietly in one corner of its cage, eagerly watching their
movements, as attracted by the sugar they flew around;
and when a fly was fairly within its reach, it bounded
as quick as lightning, and seized it with unerring aim;
then retired to the bottom of the sage, and devoured it

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