THE OCTODONT TRIBE, 



161 



most branches of the trees. It is more shy and less easily tamed than the 

 first species; and, like the latter, fights fiercely in self-defence when attacked. 

 In one of the species, at least, there are but four teats in the female, from which 

 it may be inferred that the number of young in a litter is small. The nipples, 

 as in the coypu, are situated high up on the sides of the body ; and this seems 

 to disprove the suggestion that in the latter animal they are thus situated in 

 order that the young may be able to suckle while the parent is in the water. 

 In Hayti and Jamaica the hutias are also represented by a nearly allied rodent 

 known as Plagiodon cedium, distinguished by the extreme complexity of the 

 enamel-folds of the molar teeth, which in the upper jaw form a kind of zigzag 

 pattern. 



Africa possesses a single representative of this group of the 

 family, known as the cane-rat (Aulacodus swinderianus), which is a 

 large species of burrowing habits, easily recognised by three deep grooves on each of 



Cane-Rat. 



THE CANE-EAT (J nat. size). 



its broad red upper incisor teeth ; these grooves giving the name to the genus of 

 which this animal is the only representative. The molar teeth resemble those of 

 the hutias. The cane-rat attains a length of about 21 inches to the root of the 

 tail ; the tail measuring from 5 to 8|- inches. Its general appearance is rat-like, 

 with the fur very coarse, and the tail but sparsely haired. In the fore-feet the 

 thumb is rudimentary and the fifth toe small ; while in the hind-foot the first toe 

 is entirely wanting. The general colour of the fur is brown, richer in tint on the 

 back than on the flanks ; the chin and upper lip being whitish, while the throat is 

 a dirty yellow, and the under-parts pale brownish yellow. The feet are pencilled 

 with black and yellow. A full-grown male will weigh as much as 9 or 10 Ibs. 



VOL. in. ii 



