■ THE TENDRACS. j6l 



II^GENUS HEMICENTETES. 



The Tendkac, nimiccntctcs speciosus, is smaller than the Tenrcc, 

 attaining a length of little more than five or six inches. The color of this 

 animal is rather rich and varied, owing to the deep tinting of the quilU 

 and the soft hues of the long and flexible hairs which stud the body 

 intermixed with the quills. The hair is of pale yellow, and the quills are 

 ol a deep red or mahogany tint toward their points, and white toward 

 their bases. The long coarse hairs which cover the abdomen and the 

 legs are annulatcd. This animal is generally found in the neighborhood 

 of water, whether fresh or salt, and makes deep burrows near the bank. 

 The natives esteem it highly as an article of food. 



The genera III. Kricalus, IV. EcHlNOP.s, and V. Orvzoryctes, are 

 based on very slight distinctions, and call for no remarks. 



VI.— GENU.S .SOLENODON. 



This genus is found only in the Antilles, one species occurring in 

 Cuba, the other in Hayti. We have thus in this genus as compared 

 with the preceding genera, a most remarkable case of discontinuous 

 distribution, two portions of the same family being separated from each 

 other by an extensive continent as well as by a deep ocean. 



THE AGOUTA. 



The AgOUTA, Solenodon cubanus, is one of the few indigenous mam- 

 mals of the West Indian Islands. Its length of body is about twelve 

 inches, of tail about eight inches. The head, neck, and stomach are of 

 a dirty ycUow-rjchre color, the tail blue-black, the rest of the coat, black. 



This animal is nocturnal and sleeps during the day. Peters accuses 

 it of being guilty of the piece of folly which is usually attributed to the 

 ostrich. When pursued it hides its head, and then stays so quietly that 

 the hunter can seize it by the tail. In captivity it does not refuse food, 

 but requires its meat cut up fine ; perfect cleanliness is indispensable 

 for its existence ; it seems to take pleasure in plunging into water. Its 

 voice is a grunt, or a scream. When angry its hair stands up. It 

 9.^ 



