276 Mr. W. S. MacLeay's Notes on Capromys. 



" the first emigrants underwent in this island, we may presume that every 

 " thing eatable must have appeared to them good and savoury, even 

 " though in reality it may have been much the reverse." (Oviedo, Lib. 

 XII, fol. 98). 



Original Synonyms of the Quemi. 



Capromys ? 



Mus subfuscus maximus cauda oblong^ pilosa ultra trientem albida. 

 /"The Spanish Racoon,) Browne's Jamaica, p. 484. 



The distinctive character of the white termination to the tail, men- 

 tioned by Browne, does not seem very evident in my animal, but I have 

 no doubt it is identical, particularly as he says the animal is a native of 

 Cuba. The young of the Quemi are very like the Hutia, only their fur 

 is much coarser, and their nose not so blunt and like that of a bear. The 

 affection of the male and female Quemi for their young, particularly that 

 of the former, is very remarkable. 



Of the Animal called Mohuy. 



" The Mohuy is an animal about the size of an Hutia. Its colour is 

 " more clear, but it is likewise gray. This was the most esteemed and 

 " precious food of the Caciques and Chiefs of the island. In appear- 

 " ance it is very like an Hutia, but the hair is stronger and stiffer, very 

 " sharp, and raised straight upwards (y muy agudo y levantado derecho 

 " para suso). I have not seen this animal, but they say there are yet 

 " in those parts many witnesses who have seen it, and some who have 

 " eaten this species praise it as better flesh than either of those men- 

 " tioned above." (Oviedo, Lib. XII, fol. 99.) 



Original Synonyms of the Mohuy, 



Capromys pilorides. Bell, Zoological Journal, Vol. I, p. 230. 

 Isodon pilorides. Say, Journal of the Acad. Nat. Sciences, Philadelph. 



Vol. II, p. 330. 

 Mus MAXIMUS puUus cauda oblonga pilosa dorso subsetoso. [The large 



brown Indian Coney.) Browne's Jamaica, p. 484. 



This is now become the most common species of Capromys in the is- 

 land of Cuba. It is easily distinguished by its long hairy tail. Its eyes 



J 



