HABITS. 



HABITS. 



Of the habits of this species in a wild state very Uttle is definitely known. 

 According to Verrill's ( :07) account it is "nocturnal, and spends the day in caves, 

 holes in the coral limestone rocks and in hollow trees and logs." At night it 

 leaves its retreat and comes forth to feed, "rooting in the earth and cultivated 

 grounds, tearing rotten logs and trees to pieces with its powerful front claws, and 

 feeding on ants, grubs, insects, vegetables, reptiles, and fruit, and at times 

 proving destructive to poultry. On several occasions it has been known to 

 enter the houses in search of roaches and other vermin, and has been captured 

 in rat-traps." Mr. Verrill's wasli drawing shows the animal with tail bent 

 around at the side of the body, and tlie mounted specimen in the American 

 Museum of Natural History is prepared in a similar manner. Such a posture 

 for tiie tail is, liowever, proliably never assumed, ;xs its stiffness admits of but 

 slight lateral flexure, and the muscle masses actuating its movements are almost 

 wholly dorsal and ventral. In tlie living animals the tail is held straight out 

 behind, somewhat depressed, but slightly elevated at the tip to permit it to 

 clear the ground. Tlie tip alone seems capable of slight lateral movement. 

 The tail serves very effectively as a support when the animal is eating. It 

 then throws itself back, with the soles of the hind feet resting their full length 

 on the ground, and the powerful tail acting as a third leg of a tripod. In this 

 position one or both of the fore feet can be lifted from the ground. 



In feeding, the animals walk clumsily about with a stiff wadtlling gait, 

 sniffing here and there at the objects that come in their path. The toes only 

 are in contact with the ground as they walk, while the metatarsals are quite 

 clear. They eat greedily of chopped meat, and will take lettuce as well by 

 way of variety. Meat they give considerable mastication, opening the jaws 

 widely as they chew. That they are capable of very quick movements, in 

 spite of their apparent clumsiness, is seen when two or three are eating together 

 and disagree as to the possession of some morsel of food. If one attempts to 

 rob another, like a flash the possessor of the dainty throws its body around 

 away from the pursuer and continues chewing greedily. Often one will seize 

 its companion by the snout, and if wickedly inclined can bite severely. Usually, 

 however, they seem peaceful enough. Rarely a shrill cry is uttered, as Mr. 

 George Nelson tells me, who has heard it while tending the captive specimens. 

 At other times, they constantly give an explosive sniff as if clearing the nose. 

 They are mainly active at night or in the late afternoon, and seem to dig over 



