528 Dr. C. I. Forsyth Major on the 
Solenodon cubanus=_Dhomas * writes the tooth-formula 
of Solenodon as follows :— 
1 
C. M. 
3 
P. : 
3 
bow wb 
we “to 
ee 
pe 
1 
1 
1 1 0" Ns ea oe 
P.d.3 (auct.) in the lower jaw is inadvertently omitted in 
the original. 
According to this author, therefore, in both upper and 
lower jaws only the two posterior milk-premolars are pro- 
duced. P.3, Hens. (P. 2, auct.), is stated to be absent, and 
P.A4, Hens. (P.1, auct.), to be present ; this interpretation is 
due to the fact that the foremost P. is stated not to be 
changed. This view has been disputed by Leche +, who 
writes the dental formula, based upon a single specimen that 
he examined, as follows :— 
18.8 1 283 4 i os 
Lian. var fe ie SN 
le <A 0) 1 Ora 4 
1238 1 23 4 1 38 
It is consequently assumed that in both upper and lower 
jaws only the two posterior milk-premolars are present, and, 
moreover, that in the lower jaw the posterior J.d. is absent. 
Jn addition to this Leche points out as a fact especially 
worthy of note that all milk-teeth are of simpler structure 
than the corresponding teeth of the permanent set. In the 
young specimen of &. cubanus before me, the molars are 
indeed fully developed, but are not yet completely protruded 
from the jaw; the main cusp of M.3 sup. is beginning to 
come through the gum. ‘The lower molars are somewhat 
further advanced. Of the incisors three J.d. are present above 
and below ; the lower J.d. 8 is situated on the outside and in 
front of the considerably larger J.3 (which is in the act of 
coming through) and is about to be shed. The C.d. are 
present above and below. Of milk-premolars the two poste- 
rior are present in both upper and lower jaws; the P. 3, Hens., 
are showing. According to these facts I do not consider that 
we are justified in denying that the latter have precursors ; 
on the contrary, it is probable that in the two young specimens 
at present known Pd. 3 has already been shed, like Ld. 3 in 
Leche’s example. As we have seen, in the Centetide P.d. 3 
is always the first among the milk-premolars to be shed ; 
since tooth-change sets in earlier in Solenodon, I suspect that 
* Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. 1892, pp. 504-506. 
+ Anat, Anzeiger, xiii. 1897, p. 623. 
Eh h e:, 
ery 
