Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1903-01-29

work of the late Professor Marsh IN
the study and publication OF the Oldest
OF the tertiary mammals. Some sug-
gestion of the importance OF the work
has recently been given in the news
paper dispatches, describing d.. Wort
mans discovery of an almost perfect
specimen of one Of the extinct apes
in Wyoming-an animal, by the way,
which is nearest of kin to the aye aye,
now found only in the dense tropical
forests of Madagascar DR.. Workman
has described this work in the follow
ing statement:
THE Marsh collection of fossil YER
tebrates in the Peabody museum is so
well known to men of science that
any statement from me regarding its
importance is scarcely required. Ii is
the result of work which extended
over the active years of one of the
greatest pioneers in the subject of
vertebrate paleontology. Through his
great energy in bringing it together,
as well as his splendid researches, it
has gained renown of such wide ex-
tent that the name of Marsh and the
Marsh collection a.e familiar to every
student wherever the science is Guilt
waited.
That particular part which in
Cludes the Oldest of the tertiary mann
mails has been less investigated. per-
haps, than any other, and in pursu-
ance of a promise made Professor
Marsh a short time before his death,
| have, within the past two years
undertaken the study and publication
Of these important specimens. Part
Of these studies, which treats of the
carnivora or flesh-eating mammals,
has already been issued, having ap-
peared as a series of articles in the
American journal of Science, May,
1901 TO July, 1902. Among the more
important results embodied in these
studies may be mentioned the dis
coyery of the probable origin of the
dogs, cats and civets, together with
the description of many new or little
known extinct forms and n fun dis
cussion of the origin of the molar
cusps of the mammalia. A new CLASH
fication of the carnivora is proposed
and has been widely accepted by paleo-
biologists.
Part II will treat of the primates
or fossil monkeys and apes, of which
there are a large number in the col
lection. The structure of these Ameri-
can forms has not hitherto been well
known and they have always been re-
garded as either lemurs or lemuroids.
The scarcity of this material in other
collections as well as the general frag-
mentary condition of the specimens,
has been one of the chief drawbacks
in gaining any comprehensive under
standing of the true nature and posi-.
ton Of these primates. 1t has long
been known to students of the subject
however, that the Marsh collection
was especially rich in well-preserved
specimens not hitherto studied, and
that their investigation would. in all
probability, throw great deal OF light
upon many obscure problems connect
ed with the development and distribu
ton OF the living ape fauna. In this
| have not been disappointed, except
in one particular. One of the most
important distinctions between the
monkeys and lemurs consists in the
peculiar modification of the teeth Il
the front of the mouth OF the latter
and Ia any specimen in which this
nf a elst tg a. L.,
possible to say with certainty, I,
which OF the two groups Ii should b,
referred. Unfortunately, none of tn,
specimens In the Marsh collactio.
were found to be sufficiently complet,
to settle this question beyond all pos
sihility of doubt or error.
Accordingly, | made a final etfor
last summer to obtain additional speci
mems of these monkeys in the old 10
calities in the Bridger basin, Wyom
ing, where the Marsh collection hat
been obtained nearly forty years pre-
viously, AS good luck would have !!
my efforts We're successful and sc
cured among other important skele
tons of the larger part of the skeleton
of one of these extinct apes with tn,
front part of the skull in almost per
feet condition.
With the assistance of this add
tional material am able to determin,
not only the structure and organiza
ton of these supposed lemu:oids bu
their true Relationship to the other pr
mates as we'll find that three O
the main divisions of the primates ar
here included. and some curious II
suits come of these determinations
Tor example, one section is represent
erd by that very remarkable anima
known as the aye aye. which no,
lives in the dense tropical forests .
Madagascar II was long through t
be rodent but upon more careful
study and dissection il proved to b
primate with rodent-Hkes or gnawin
incisors. 1t seems strange, indeed
that near relative. the nearest by tn
way that has ever been found. Shout
occur in a locality so remote fror
Madagascar as Wyoming. Anothe
section is represented by the nttl