352 THE AGOUTA, OR SOLENODON. 
It has already been stated that the back of the water Shrew is of a velvety black, and the 
abdomen and under portions of the body of a beautiful and clearly defined white. In the 
Oared Shrew, however, the back is profusely sprinkled with white hairs, and the fur of the 
abdomen and flanks is blackish-gray instead of pure white. The middle of the abdomen, how- 
ever, together with that of the throat, is strongly tinged with yellow; the throat being more 
of an ashy yellow than the abdomen. 
Although not so common as the erd and the water Shrew, it isof more frequent occurrence 
than is generally supposed, and has been found in many parts of Europe, where it was for- 
merly supposed to be wanting. 
The total length of the Oared Shrew is about five inches and a quarter, the head and body 
measuring rather more than three inches, and the tail being about two inches in length. Its 
nose is not quite so sharp or narrow as that of the water Shrew, and the ears are decorated 
with a slight fringe of white hair. The latter third of the tail is flattened, as if for swimming, 
AGOUTA, OR SOLENODON —Solenodon paradoxum 
while the remaining two-thirds are nearly cylindrical, but are slightly squared, as has been 
already mentioned of the common Shrew. 
On account of the general darkness of its fur, it is sometimes called the Black Water 
Shrew, and is catalogued in some museums under that title. The generic name, Crossopus, 
is of Greek origin, and signifies ‘‘ fringed-feet.”’ 
There is another Shrew, called the Rustic Shrew (Corsira ristica), which is very com- 
mon throughout Ireland, and is also found in many parts of Northern Europe. Among the 
Shrews is found the smallest known mammalian animal of the present day ; being even smaller 
than the tiny harvest-mouse, which has been made so famous by Mr. White’s elegant descrip- 
tion of itself and its habits in his ‘‘ Natural History of Selborne.’’ This most minute quadru- 
ped is only one inch and a half in length, exclusive of the tail, which measures about an inch. 
The name of this minikin among mammals is the Etruscan Shrew, and its habitation is in 
[taly. Specimens are said to have been discovered in Algeria. 
THE specific title of Paradoxus, or puzzling, has very appropriately been given to the 
AGouTa; a little animal which is peculiar to Hayti, and which combines in its own person 
several characteristics that properly belong to different families of animals. 
Were the observer to pay regard only to the external peculiarity of fur, ears, and tail, he 
would be inclined to place it among the opossums; but if he were to lay the greatest stress 
upon the teeth, he would probably assign it to a place among the shrews. 
