Desraarest on Capromys. 83 



below ; the muscles which more them are very prominent, parti- 

 cularly towards the extremity of the toes. A number of transverse 

 furrows are observed which are very apparent on the lower surface, 

 both of the anterior and hinder toes. 



The palms and the soles of the feet are naked, black, and as it 

 were shagreened with large grains, somewhat like the rind of the 

 truffle. This structure is continued to the heel on the hind feet, 

 which indicates that the animal is plantigrade ; the heel, however, 

 is a little raised, and touches the ground only by accident in 

 walking gently. The palm has five principal prominences, sepa- 

 rated by deep furrows : one of these projections corresponds to the 

 thumb, another, placed externally, forms a sort of heel, a third is 

 at the base of the index, a fourth answers to the middle and fourth 

 toe, and the fifth corresponds to the outer toe. The sole of the 

 foot, growing narrower towards the heel, has, about two-thirds of 

 the length forwards, a very deep transverse furrcv, beyond which 

 are four tubercles analogous to those of the fore feet, and similarly 

 disposed ; one towards the inner toe, a second for the following 

 one, a third for the two next, and a fourth for the outer toe. On 

 the shagreened skin of the lower surface of all the feet there is one 

 scale larger than the rest, on the most projecting part of each tu- 

 bercle, which is somewhat of a hexahedral form. 



The nipples, of a brownish colour, situated entirely at the sides 

 of the body, are four in number ; the pectoral or anterior pair being 

 about two inches and a half from the second or abdominal pair. 



The anus, situated near the base of the tail, forms a conical, 

 oblong, distinct projection, at the summit of which is the orifice 

 of the intestinal canal, nearly circular, having a raised edge, and 

 marked with fine converging striae. 



The sheath of the penis, in one of the individuals in my posses- 

 sion, is situated one inch before the anus ; in the other, which I 

 believe to be the older, it is much nearer. The form of this sheath 

 is elongate, conical, swoln at the hase and pointed at the extre- 

 mity ; its direction, when at rest, is backwards, and its point 

 almost touches the edge of the anus. The orifice for the escape 

 ©f the urine is below, and is corrugated at its extremity like the 

 prepuce of a child. The testicles, concealed under the skin, but 



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