Journal of the Philadelphia Academy, 411 



African in its activity, its constantly lively countenance, &c. 

 Both species inhabit the Island of Cuba, the C. prehensilis, which 

 is rare, being found only towards the southern coasts, in an almost 

 uncultivated country, covered with thick woods, as in the Partido 

 de las Piedras, ad Macuriges, ad Masmariges, &c. It uses its 

 long tail with amazing dexterity, frequently eluding the pursuit 

 of the hunter by seizing with it the branch of a tree, and hiding 

 itself amidst the innumerable and frequently pendulous plants 

 which cover the more lofty trees of those tropical regions. In its 

 manner of life and of feeding it agrees with the C.pilorides which 

 is much more common, and is a stupid, nocturnal animal. From 

 these characters we are inclined to suspect that Dr. P. has mis- 

 applied the Spanish names by which he states the species to be 

 designated. The weight of the C.prehensilis is from seven to 

 nine pounds ; that of the C.pilorides being from twelve to sixteen, 

 and the description of Desmarest having consequently been taken 

 from a young individual. 



The body of the Capromys prehensilis is almost cylindrical, 

 becoming slightly larger towards the pelvis, especially in the 

 female. Colour of the back formed from a mixture of grey and 

 ferruginous. Hairs black, and very soft at the base, grey in the 

 middle, and ferruginous and rigid at their apices. Fur dense, 

 especially on the back. Neck short, densely covered with short 

 adpressed yellowish hairs. Forehead, cheeks, and throat, yel- 

 lowish white. Breast and abdomen white, with an obscure stria 

 on each side. Pubic region naked. Base of the tail ferruginous, 

 skin griseous, the remaining portion cylindrical ; naked above 

 towards the apex. Toes covered with rigid, hoary, shining hairs. 

 Head hoary? slightly flattened on the front; ears ovate, ciliate, 

 naked on the outside ; within hairy, black. Eyes oblique, aper- 

 ture of the lids ovate ; lids black on their margins ; ciliae short 

 and black. Snout acute, truncate, naked, very moveable, black. 

 Nostrils forming an oblique angle with the upper jaw, linear, in 

 the living animal ovate. Lips thick, white ; the upper one fur- 

 rowed, and almost cleft, by a deep sulcus commencing between the 

 nostrils ; the lower one entire. Aperture of the mouth transverse ; 

 when the jaws are extended, ovate ; in this state the molar teeth 



