SOLENODONS. 343 



common hedgeTiog-tenrec (Ericulus setosiis) is about two-thirds the size of the 

 European hedgehog, and has thirty -six teeth. Telfair's hedgehog -tenrec (E. 

 telfairi) is considerably smaller, with only thirty-four teeth, owing to the absence 

 of the first pair of premolars in the upper jaw. 



The Long-TaUed Two small mouse-like animals from Madagascar, each having 



Tenrecs. forty teeth, aYe distinguished from all the preceding members of the 

 family by the absence oi spines mingled with the fur, and also by the great length 

 of the tail. In one of the species {Microgale longicaudatci) the length of the tail is 

 double that of the head and body — a proportion only equalled among the pangolins. 

 Of the 40 teeth, § are incisors, }- canines, and g cheek-teeth on either side. 



The Rice- The last members of the Centetidce are the two small mole-like 



Tenrecs. animals known as rice-tenrecs, distinguished by the extreme shortness 

 of their tails, and likewise by their burrowing haljits. The four-toed rice tenrec 

 (Oryzorictes tetradactyla) is peculiar in having but four toes on the fore-feet, of 

 which the three innermost ones are armed with powerful claws for digging. The 

 second species (0. hovu) has five front toes, but both agree in having long, trunk- 

 like snouts. These animals are a great pest to the agriculturists of Madagascar, 

 owing to the damage they inflict on the rice crops by burrowing in tlu; earth 

 beneath the young plants in search of worms and insects. 



The Solenodon.s. 

 Family SoLEXODOXTID.-E. 



Strange as it may seem that the nearest relatives of the tenrecs of Madagascar 

 should be found in a region so far removed frcjm that island as the West Indies, yet 

 it appears that the two solenodons really occupy this position ; although in the 

 form of the incisor, canine, and premolar teutli they approximate, very closely to 

 the desmans (p. 333). 



They have a total of forty teeth, corresponding serially with those of the long- 

 tailed tenrecs: and they are distinguished from the Ccntetida by the circumstance 

 that the skull is somewhat narrowed between the eyes, and also by the mannnaj 

 being entirely confined to the region of the groin, instead of extending on to the 

 breast, as in all other members of the order. The snout is long, cylindrical, and 

 trunk-like, with the no.strils situated on each side of its extremity ; the tail naked, 

 cylindrical, and of considerable length : and the toes, especially those of the foi-e- 

 feet, are armed with powerful curved claw.s. The fur covering the bod}^ is long 

 and coarse. The Haytian solenodon (Solevodon jxiradoxus) is restricted to the 

 island of Hayti, and was the first known of the two species. It may be compared 

 in size to a small rabbit, the head and body measuring about 12 inches, and the 

 tail about 8. The head and upper-parts are brown, becoming blackish behind 

 and on the thighs ; while the sides of the head and under-parts ai-e lighter in 

 colour. 



The Cuban solenodon (S. ciibcmus), is distinguished by the whole of the head, 

 neck, and chest being tawny, or yellowish, while the remainder of the upper part 

 and sides of the body is dark blackish-brown. The nature of the fur is also some- 



