1 14 EXTINCT AND VANISHING MAMMALS 



Plana Key after 1891 until James C. Green way, Jr., landed 

 there in February 1933. He found the hutias still present in 

 some numbers and brought back a few specimens for the 

 Museum of Comparative Zoology. They frequented especially 

 small clumps of bushes and would dash out if disturbed, seek- 

 ing the shelter of an adjacent clump. 



It seems evident that at some former time these or similar 

 hutias were more widely distributed in the Bahama group. 

 Catesby mentions a Cuniculus bahamensis and presents a 

 figure of what may have been one of the Cuban species of 

 Capromys, though no locality is given. According to J. A. 

 Allen (1891), the narrators of Columbus's voyage "make 

 frequent mention of their abundance not only in the Bahamas 

 and at Jamaica, but also in Cuba and Hispaniola." In recent 

 years remains of this genus have been brought to light in the 

 investigation of caves and aboriginal sites in some of the 

 Bahamas, and these prove to be allied but slightly distinct 

 forms, a brief account of which may be included here. 



CROOKED ISLAND HUTIA 

 GEOCAPROMYS INGRAHAMI IRRECTUS Lawrence 



Geocapromys ingrahami irrectus Lawrence, Occas. Papers Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., vol. 



8, p. 190, Nov. 7, 1934 ("Gordon Hill Caves, Crooked Island, Bahamas"). 

 FIG.: Lawrence, 1934, fig. 2 (rostrum). 



GREAT ABACO HUTIA 

 GEOCAPROMYS INGRAHAMI ABACONIS Lawrence 



Geocapromys ingrahami abaconis Lawrence, op. cit., p. 191, Nov. 7, 1934 ("Imperial 



Lighthouse Caves, Hole in the Wall, Great Abaco Island, Bahamas"). 

 FIG.: Lawrence, 1934, fig. 3 (rostrum). 



These two forms are very nearly related and may be treated 

 together. Both are known from skeletal remains, including 

 rostra and some other parts of the skull, secured in the course 

 of archeological investigations in the Bahamas in 1933-34, by 

 Froelich Rainey. The points of distinction thus far made out 

 lie mainly in the details of the rostral bones and in the teeth. 

 G. ingrahami irrectus seems to have been slightly larger than 

 the Plana Keys animal, still living, with longer tooth row, 

 wider individual teeth, and longer zygomatic arch. The two 

 enamel loops on the inner side of the three lower molars are 



