352 



THE AGOUTA, OR SOLENODON. 



It has already been stated that the back of the water Shrew is of a velvety black, and the 

 abdomen and under portions of the body of a beautiful and clearly defined white. In the 

 Oared Shrew, however, the back is profusely sprinkled with white hairs, and the fur of the 

 abdomen and Hanks is blackish-gray instead of pure white. The middle of the abdomen, how- 

 ever, together with that of the throat, is strongly tinged with yellow ; the throat being more 

 of an ashy yellow than the abdomen. 



Although not so common as the erd and the water Shrew, it is of more frequent occurrence 

 than is generally supposed, and has been found in many parts of Europe, where it was for- 

 merly supposed to be wanting. 



The total length of the Oared Shrew is about five inches and a quarter, the head and body 

 measuring rather more than three inches, and the tail being about two inches in length. Its 

 nose is not quite so sharp or narrow as that of the water Shrew, and the ears are decorated 

 with a slight fringe of white hair. The latter third of the tail is flattened, as if for swimming, 



..-x -- 



AGOUTA, OR SOLENODON. -.Sofenodon paradoxum. 



while the remaining two-thirds are nearly cylindrical, but are slightly squared, as has been 

 already mentioned of the common Shrew. 



On account of the general darkness of its fur, it is sometimes called the Black Water 

 Shrew, and is catalogued in some museums under that title. The generic name, Crossopus, 

 is of Greek origin, and signifies "f ringed-feet." 



There is another Shrew, called the Rustic Shrew (Gorsira rustica), which is very com- 

 mon throughout Ireland, and is also found in many parts of Northern Europe. Among the 

 Shrews is found the smallest known mammalian animal of the present day ; being even smaller 

 than the tiny harvest-mouse, which has been made so famous by Mr. White's elegant descrip- 

 tion of itself and its habits in his " Natural History of Selborne." This most minute quadru- 

 ped is only one inch and a half in length, exclusive of the tail, which measures about an inch. 

 The name of this minikin among mammals is the Etruscan Shrew, and its habitation is in 

 Italy. Specimens are said to have been discovered in Algeria. 



THE specific title of Paradoxus, or puzzling, has very appropriately been given to the 

 AGOUTA ; a little animal which is peculiar to Hayti, and which combines in its own person 

 several characteristics that properly belong to different families of animals. 



Were the observer to pay regard only to the external peculiarity of fur, ears, and tail, he 

 would be inclined to place it among the opossums ; but if he were to lay the greatest stress 

 upon the teeth, he would probably assign it to a place among the shrews. 



