OSTEOLOGY. 



35 



incisor at the internal side of tlie tip and a similar condition exists in the second 

 lower incisor of Taljm. 



The vertebrae of Solenodon paradoxus are: cervicals, 7; dorsals, IG; kun- 

 bars, 4; sacrals, 4; caudals, 24; total, 55. There is thus one more dorsal, one 

 less sacral, and one less caudal than described for S. c?i6am<s by Peters, whoso 

 account appears to be the only one on which our knowledge of the skeletal parts 

 of iS. cubanus other than the skull, is based. Dobson apparently follows Peters, 

 though he states that his description of the myology is based on the dissection 

 of a specimen from Cuba in tlie Paris Museum. Peters's figure is very clear, and 

 the additional sacral vertebra in cubanus seems to be a caudal fused to the sa- 

 crum since the first chevron bone is between this fused vertebra and the next 

 following caudal vertebra instead of between the first and second free vertebrae. 

 In possessing IG dorsals, Solenodon paradoxus resembles Potamogale. Gym- 

 nura has 15, as does S. cubanus, and certain species of Erinaceus. Centetes 

 seems still more jirimitive in i)ossessing 19, as does Chrysochloris. The lumbar 

 vertebrae in Solenodon are reduced in number as in the latter genus, being but 

 4, antl thus fewer than in the other gcneralizetl Insectivora. Centetes is remark- 

 able in possessing but two sacrals, though Solenodon paradoxus with four only 

 shows a reduced condition as compared with related genera. The following 

 table will show at a glance these differences. 



Veiiebrcd Formulae of Insectivora. 



Gymiuira allia . 



Erinaceus 



Talpa .... 



Myogale 



Potamogale . 



C'entete.s 



Solenodon culianus 



Solenodon paradoxvis 



Chrysochloris 



Caudals. 



25 



6 + 

 12 

 27 

 32 

 7 

 23? 

 24 

 8-9 



The atlas of Solenodon (Plate 7, figs. 4, 5) resembles that of Gymnura in 

 possessing a ventral median hypapophysis extending posteriorly from the 

 anterior lip, but the remaining vertebrae are without hypapophyses, thus 

 differing from Gymnura and Potamogale. The axis is large with a high broad 

 crest and elongated transverse processes at its ventral margin, directed poste- 

 riorly (Plate 7, figs. S, 9). At the fourth cervical vertebra the transverse process 

 has also an anterior projection wliich increases somewhat in the two succeeding. 



