ALLEN: FOSSIL MAMMALS FROM CUBA. 141 



in 1917, and were associated with remains of Nesophontes, Boromys, 

 and Geocapromys. It was supposed that the species must have 

 become extinct since the introduction of house-rats by Europeans, for, 

 being of nearly the same size as a rat, it would soon come into competi- 

 tion with them. While in central Cuba, Dr. Barbour made many 

 inquiries among the country people with a view to eliciting possible 

 information as to the supposedly extinct mammals, and finally learned 

 through Senor Lucas Ramos of a very small rat-like species, not a 

 house-rat, that was seen rarely. Through the interest of this gentle- 

 man and of Senor Don Jose Garcia, one of these animals was finally 

 captured and sent by Senor Garcia to the Museum, preserved in 

 alcohol. It is of very great interest to find that it is Capromys nana, 

 proving that this fourth species of the genus is yet extant in Cuba. 

 According to Sefiores Ramos and Garcia, live individuals have been 

 seen on a few occasions, as when saw-grass has been fired to improve 

 grazing, thus forcing them to rush off to places of safety. No doubt 

 its range was formerly much more extensive as shown by the presence 

 of its remains in at least two separate localities in western Cuba. 



The skin of this alcoholic specimen has been very handsomely pre- 

 pared by Mr. George Nelson. The animal is an adult female, of about 

 the size of a large Norway Rat, and a typical Capromys, nearest 

 resembling in general appearance C. j/rchensilis, though with a tail 

 distinctly bicolored, dark above and light below except at the tip 

 which is black all around. The upper surface of the head, body, and 

 forearms is a mixture of long black hairs with hairs having an ochra- 

 ceous tip, except that on the muzzle and in front of the ear these parti- 

 colored hairs have whitish tips instead. The fingers and sides of the 

 feet are whitish, but the middle of the metacarpal and metatarsal 

 regions is darkened. On the rump the ochraceous tips of the hairs 

 become longer and deeper colored, and extend on to the base of the 

 tail for nearly three quarters of an inch. Beyond this point, the 

 character of the hair changes, becoming shorter, less coarse, and 

 (particularly on the lower side) slightly recurved, so as to give a some- 

 what bushy appearance. The scaly surface of the tail is faintly visible 

 through its covering. The dorsal side of the tail is black, as well as 

 the terminal inch of the lower ^surf ace, but elsewhere is pale ochraceous 

 buff, rather sharply marked off. The throat and sides of the belly 

 are like the back, but paler and with less admixture of black hairs; 

 the chin, middle of belly, and inner sides of the legs grayish or dull 

 white. The vibrissae are deep black; the ears nearly naked but 

 sparsely covered with short black hairs. 



