The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-02-19
TARSIER, THE PHILIPPINE LINK.
The Great-Grandfather of Mankind and
Other Animhls in Our New Possessions.

Other Animals in Our New Possessions.
From the ST. Louis Globe Democrat.
AQueer creature. lately discovered to be the
great-grandfather OF mankind. will become a
United States subject with the ratification Of
the peace treaty.
Uncle Sam is to exhibit expansion OF his
lower animal kingdom in the National 20
illogical Park. DR.. Frank Baker. Superintend-
ent of the park, has Just departed upon a tour
Of collection. The Government naturalists are
now giving their attention to the strange fauna
Of the islam Is soon to become or already
c!assed as our new possessions. Little scien-
tihc attention has been given to these species
hitherto. They are practically unknown, save
to several travellers. whose reports have been
lately obtained.
The Governments savants are delighted at
the prospect of poking straws into the cage OF
a real live "tarsier." or course you have no
idea who Scnor Tarsier is. Just now many
evolutionists regard him as a number of con-
siderably elevated temperature. Prot. HUI
brecht of the University Of Utrecht has lately
discovered that he is no less n parsonage than
a"link" connecting Grandfather Monkey with
his ancestors. Thus the evolutionary scale
would be changed by Prof. Hubrecht to run.
man. ape. monkey. tarsier. and so on, tarsier
appearing as what may be popularity termed
the great-Erandfather OF mankind.
Tarsier may best be described as having q
face like an owl and q body. limbs and tail like
those OF q monkey. His sitting height is about
that Of the squirrel. AS his enormous optics
would lead one to suppose. he cuts caperS in
the night and sleeps in the daytime. concealed
usually in abandoned clearings. where new
growth has sprung up to a height Of 20 feet or
more. Very often he sleeps in a standing pos
ture, g~raspinG the lower stem OF a small tree
with his long and slender fingers and toes.
During his nightly wanderings he utters a
squeak like that Of q monkey. During the day
the pupils OF his eyes contract to fine lines. but
after dark expand until they I'LL most Of the
irises. From his habit Of feeding only upon
insects he has a strong. bat-like odor.
Mr.. John Whitehead. who has spent the past
three years studying the animals Of the Philip
pines. foreshadows the probable behavior OF
tarsier when he arrives at the national ZOO
The Philippine natives call the little creature
"magou." In Samar." says Mr.. Whitehead.
in a report just received at the Smithsonian.
where at different times l kept several
magous alive. l found them very docile and
easily managed during the day. They feed
freely off grasshoppers. sitting on their
haun ches on my hand. When offered an in
with its most wonderful eyes. then slowly bend
forward. and. with a sudden dash. would seize
the insect with both hands and instantly carry
it to its mouth. shutting its eyes and screw
ing, up its tiny face in a most Whimsical
fashion. The ErasShopper was then qulck-
~ passed through the SHARP, little teeth.
the kicking legs being held with both hands;
the large ayes Of the magou would open and
the legs and wings we're then bitten on; while
eafed deSE Ny S' ]c snS SSs' would cHS also rink fresh
milk from a spoon. After the sun had set this
Escaping Tn!"' When possible and making Ire;
mendous jumps from chair to chair. Mhen on
kangaroo. travelling about the room on its hind
legs with the tail stretched out and curved Ht1
y w%Td; ks st! @nd SitRIn esu qaite S yictous igo When the
Opportunity offered" This remarkable man
% prab Is iGn IN d II 1hs is5H ana P P5 RsIna IN a Boh af.'0'
Common throughout the PHILIPPINES $ a still
nearer %r9 Ibicb tS St map; c IGnE the "eho EfSS""
Chongo does not bchaye himself as well as does
magou, In Northern LI2 og ne NESTS m1ar thf lEr-
especially those Of maize ana sweet potst2rs'
and is the cause OF Hnilmited Ialago proraniy y;
ruarded against his attacks. He is to be seen
anywhere from the cold mountain tops to inc
Another freak beast which will excite curl
osity in our geological gardens is the tarnhrau.
a dwarf buffalo, found in the forests OF MIN
daoro' q tie IN R,aaiIWiP arIa bg ssSpp' not i u i ths st XIneri
lean bison. 1t sometimes occurs high up IN me
mountains. 1t tunnels pathways through tho
tam tafGt sides ABOVE 5000 feet. Hunters must go
upon hands and knees to foll3w these trails
beiea a deathly AFRAID Of it,
The midget Philippine squirrel Is another
odd creature. 1t is about the SIZE 81 q MOUSE,
has legs longer in proportion IMAM thoSe OF mo
ordinary squirrel, larger eyes and snort
rounded ears. A large, brown rat. gray phaer-
meath and with squirrel-like head ana eyes
Int black, cord-like tail. is OF still greater ~.
teresL from an evolutionary point OF NleW. ~
il discovered to be the last LINK long needed 70
complete the chain Of relationship between dhG
true rats and water rats. A wild nig, dlgllneu
nv the name OF "Sus Colehensls ,lll!lpplhrh-
SIS found throughout the whole rhllppiile
group, 1t is exceedingly exclusive during tie
day. when it hides IN tho iorest. .HL ha,4us
rayiy forth during the night inlo the naive
mate and rice fields, where u does, much dam
age. The natives call this badly behaved pig
IN" Philippines will also contribute giant
officiating bat. All American bats. OF course,
suhsIst entirely upon ~insects and, are proVidsu
Win sharp teeth with which TO nip them. Inc
[ f,uit-aating bat OF these islands is larger than
3 rat has a long head and blunt teeth; II
l makes nightly inroads upon the banana plan,
tations and other fruit preserves. during the
day il sleeps hanging head coWnwaru from d
Urn Bataan, of the Philippine group, he foun,d
a rheyratain, or "mOuBe-deer, u ,tin,y nLllt
/, 8I9nTv as cunning as q fox. and when; whel
, smnTed. feigns death until freed Wheh y leaIl
I M, lie a lightning fash and takes 20 inc forest
. ienylng the mex erienced trdppef III Rrehf huI
mise The Philippines also contain civrt:
" Wildcats, porcupines. Lizards, snakes ana az
= ~atoTs The "chacOn," on" variety ol alllgh
IEnr Is prized by the natives as atIordlng, I'm
miinity against death by earthquake shocK'