LHE OCLODONGAURIBE. 161 
most branches of the trees. It is more shy and less easily tamed than the 
first species; and, like the latter, fights fiercely in self-defence when attacked. 
In one of the species, at least, there are but four teats in the female, from which 
it may be inferred that the number of young in a litter is small. The nipples, 
as in the coypu, are situated high up on the sides of the body; and this seems 
to disprove the suggestion that in the latter animal they are thus situated in 
order that the young may be able to suckle while the parent is in the water. 
In Hayti and Jamaica the hutias are also represented by a nearly allied rodent 
known as Plagiodon cedium, distinguished by the extreme complexity of the 
enamel-folds of the molar teeth, which in the upper jaw form a kind of zigzag 
pattern. 
Africa possesses a single representative of this group of the 
family, known as the cane-rat (Aulacodus swinderianus), which is a 
large species of burrowing habits, easily recognised by three deep grooves on each of 
Cane-Rat. 



















THE CANE-RAT (4 nat. size). 
its broad red upper incisor teeth; these grooves giving the name to the genus of 
which this animal is the only representative. The molar teeth resemble those of 
the hutias. The cane-rat attains a length of about 21 inches to the root of the 
tail; the tail measuring from 5} to 8} inches. Its general appearance is rat-like, 
with the fur very coarse, and the tail but sparsely haired. In the fore-feet the 
thumb is rudimentary and the fifth toe small; while in the hind-foot the first toe 
is entirely wanting. The general colour of the fur is brown, richer in tint on the 
back than on the flanks; the chin and upper lip being whitish, while the throat is 
a dirty yellow, and the under-parts pale brownish yellow. The feet are pencilled 
with black and yellow. A full-grown male will weigh as much as 9 or 10 Ibs. 
VOL. II, —II 
