1893-] Allen and Chapman on Trinidad Mammals. 227 



solely on the authority of Verteuil, who mentions two species, 

 namely, " Echymys chrysuros " and u Echymys rufus (?)." What 

 these are it is impossible to determine, as the names given are 

 not pertinent to any Trinidad animal, and there is no other 

 clue as to what he intended to indicate. Verteuil doubtless knew 

 of the existence of two spiny rats in Trinidad, one of which was 

 probably a Loncheres and the other possibly the present species. 



This species is known by the native name of Pilori, and by some 

 is considered excellent eating. There are popularly supposed to 

 be two species, one with and the other without a tail. It lives in 

 the forest, making its home in holes in the banks of streams or 

 beneath the roots of trees. Three females contained respectively 

 two, four, and six large embryos. 



25. Synetheres prehensilis (Linn.). Represented by an 

 adult skull. 



The presence of this arboreal species is made known by the 

 nauseating odor it gives forth. This is especially noticeable in 

 the early morning, when the air is humid and before the daily 

 trade-winds begin to blow. In walking through the forests at 

 this time it was not unusual to encounter odoriferous strata of 

 air proceeding from individuals of this species. So dense, how- 

 ever, was the parasitic vegetation on the trees in which they conceal 

 themselves, that they were practically invisible from below. 



26. Dasyprocta aguti (Linn.). Represented by three adult 

 skins and four adult skulls. 



The Agouti is a very common animal in the forests near the 

 rest-house. It is diurnal, but is more frequently met with late in 

 the afternoon and early in the morning. It is much hunted for 

 food, the usual method of capture being from a scaffold which 

 the hunter erects near some favorite feeding-place. Here at a 

 height of eight or ten feet, and distant only a few yards from the 

 spot at which the game is expected to appear, the almost worth- 

 less guns of the negroes prove effective. The Agouti is an 

 exceedingly shy animal. In approaching its feeding-ground it 

 advances with the utmost caution, pausing frequently to listen. 

 In eating it sits erect, holding its food between its front feet. 



