MAMMALIA. 459 



species of this section inhabit the middle and southern parts of South 

 America, on both sides of the Andes. 



In the genus Hahrocoma the fore feet possess four toes ; the ears are 

 very large. The species, two in number, inhabit Chili. 



The genus Ododon has moderately large ears ; a tail as long as the body, 

 slightly bushy at the extremity ; five toes to the fore and hind feet ; the 

 claws small. Tlie species inhabit Chili. 



The genus Schizodon, again, has moderate sized ears, a tail shorter than 

 the bod}' , clothed throughout with small adpressed hairs ; the fore feet 

 strong ; the claws about equal to the toes in length ; five toes throughout ; 

 incisor teeth stout. The species inhabit the eastern side of the Southern 

 Andes. 



The genus Spalacoims is characterized by having rudimentary ears, 

 almost entirely hidden by the fur of the head ; the tail is short, and clothed 

 with short hairs ; the nails of the toes of the fore feet rather shorter than 

 the toes ; the incisor teeth are moderately broad, those of the upper jaw 

 distinctly directed forwards as well as downwards. Inhabit Chili, and live 

 almost entirely under ground. 



In the genus Gtenomys the ears are also rudimentary, but the eyes are 

 small, the tail short, the fore feet large and powerful, and armed with nails 

 which exceed the toes in length; the incisor teeth are very broad, the 

 upper pair distinctly convex in front, the lower pair flat at the same part ; 

 molars with two unequal lobes. Extends from westwards of Brazil into 

 Bolivia, and southwards to the Straits of Magellan. The species, four 

 in number, live under ground. Two fossil species of this genus have 

 been discovered in South America, at Bahia Bianca and Monte Her- 

 moso. 



Suh-fam. 4. Echimyina^ have complicated molar teeth, and generally 

 rooted ; the hind and fore feet provided with five toes. 



The genus Capromys still possess rootless molar teeth ; each upper molar 

 has a single deep fold of enamel on the inner side, and two deep folds on 

 the outer ; the upper lip is slightly cleft ; the ears are moderate ; the taitt of 

 moderate length, and somewhat sparingly clothed with hairs, which do not 

 hide the scaly skin ; the feet are naked beneath, and covered with small 

 tubercles ; the nails of the toes are large, and much curved ; the pupil of 

 the eye is vertical. There are two species of this genus known, and they 

 both inhabit the island of Cuba. One of them, C. jnlorides, is the type of 

 the genus Isodon of Say ; this species is seen in the forests, climbing the 

 trees with great activity, both for safety when danger threatens, and to seek 

 its food, which not only consists of fruits and the leaves and bark of trees, 

 but likewise of the flesh of animals, especially of the lizard of the genus 

 Anolius, which it hunts with great preseverance. It is readily tamed. 



The genus Archceomys had a species in Europe during the upper tertiary 

 period, very nearly approximated to Capromys, and representing evidently 

 at that time, on the Old Continent, that latter genus now confined to the 

 West Indies. The name Gergoviamys is applied to the same genus. 



The genera Plagiodontia^ Myopotamus^ CercomySj Petromys, Badyhmys, 



663 



