CUBAN SOLENODON. 



CHAPTER V 



West Indies — Galapagos Islands 



Solenodon. 



Animals of the West Indies 



The most remarkable mammals of the West Indies are the 

 solenodons, inhabiting Hayti and Cuba, whose nearest allies are, 

 undoubtedly, the tenrecs of Madagascar. These curious Insectivora are charac- 

 terised by the prolonged cylindrical muzzle, long, tapering, scaly tail, large strong 

 claws, especially on the fore-feet, and coarse shaggy hair. The Haytian species 

 (Solenodon paradoxus), which is the size of a very large rat, is brown above, 

 black on the thighs, and pale brown on the sides of the head and under-parts. 

 In the Cuban species (S. cubanus), on the other hand, the general colour is some 

 shade of tawny or rufous, with a variable amount of black on the back and throat, 

 and a pale nuchal spot. The two species were long believed to be distinguished merely 

 by colour, but it is now ascertained that there is a difference in the number of the 

 vertebrae. As regards habits, these nocturnal insectivores assume a characteristic 

 pose when feeding, throwing the body backwards, with the full length of the soles 

 of the hind feet applied to the ground, and the strong tail serving as the third leg 

 of a tripod. In this posture one or both of the fore feet can be raised from the 

 ground. In walking the toes only are in contact with the ground, the greater 

 part of the soles of the hind pair being elevated. Captive specimens fed greedily on 

 chopped meat, but would also eat lettuce leaves. Usually they appeared peaceful 

 enough, but occasionally one would seize its companion by its long snout and 

 inflict a severe bite. Very rarely they uttered a shrill cry, but they were 

 constantly sniffing with a kind of explosive snort, and they emitted a disagreeable 



odour, somewhat between that of a goat and that of a porcupine. How these aber- 



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