12 SOLENODON PARADOXUS. 



maroon shading into deep ferruginous on the sides of tlie neclv, while posteriorly 

 the sides of the body and the venter are orange-rufous, somewhat more ferrugi- 

 nous on the lower surface of the arms and on the inguinal region. The nuchal 

 spot in this specimen is bright buff. 



A very young female (Plate l, fig. 2) is much paler in color than any of the 

 adults. The dorsal area lias a general tone of brocolli brown due in part to the 

 dilute pigmentation of the black hairs and the paleness of tlie bufTy hairs, which 

 are here of a light cream buff. Tliis color also extends over the sides and mid- 

 ventral region becoming more intense a buff on the inguinal region and on the 

 lower throat and chest. The ferruginous tints of the adult are quite absent at 

 this early age. 



The long vil^rissae are usually buffy or ferruginous, but sometimes black. 



Between the various styles of coloration just described all gradations occur. 

 The black of the dorsuju may be so restricted as to cover but a narrow median 

 area or it may extend almost to the ventral l)order of the body. Again it may 

 be so intermixed with buffy hairs that instead of showing clear black it ajjpears 

 as a uniformly grizzled drab, with all intermediate gradations of coloring. The 

 color of the underparts in the youngest specimens varies from a uniform buff to 

 ochraceous-ljuff and ochraceous, but in the adults the buff is often confined to 

 the sides and abdomen and shades into ochraceous on the inguinal region and 

 into ferruginous on the chest and throat. Others, however, have the inguinal 

 area buff like the sides and abdomen. Again, the ferruginous of the throat may 

 extend ventrally upon the abdomen, reaching an extreme in the case of an old 

 female that has the entire belly and sides suffused with this color. Some have 

 the abdojiiinal surface nearly clear drab. All the specimens show the white 

 nuchal patch except one or two highly colored adults in which this area is suf- 

 fused with the buff or the ferruginous of the sides and belly. The white spot 

 varies from a narrow streak 6 mm. witle antl 12 mm. long to a blotch about 

 20 by 25 nun. 



The great difference in color between S. paradoxus and S. cubanus has l)een 

 pointed out by Dr. J. A. Allen. In the Cuban species the pelage is finer and 

 longer. The dorsum is more uniformly dark without the admixture of lighter 

 hairs. The uniform dark color of the back continues on to the feet, the thighs, 

 forearms and chest while the greater part of the head and part of the mitl-ventral 

 area are pale yellowish, or in alcoholic specimens nearly white. 



External measurements. — The following measurements are of ten adults, 

 a young male, and a second younger animal, a female, but three days old, born in 



