12 SOLENODON PARADOXUS. 
maroon shading into deep ferruginous on the sides of the neck, while posteriorly 
the sides of the body and the venter are orange-rufous, somewhat more ferrugi- 
nous on the lower surface of the arms and on the inguinal region. The nuchal 
spot in this specimen is bright buff. 
A very young female (Plate 1, fig. 2) is much paler in color than any of the 
adults. The dorsal area has a general tone of brocolli brown due in part to the 
dilute pigmentation of the black hairs and the paleness of the buffy hairs, which 
are here of a light cream buff. This color also extends over the sides and mid- 
ventral region becoming more intense a buff on the inguinal region and on the 
lower throat and chest. The ferruginous tints of the adult are quite absent at 
this early age. 
The long vibrissae are usually buffy or ferruginous, but sometimes black. 
Between the various styles of coloration just described all gradations occur. 
The black of the dorsum may be so restricted as to cover but a narrow median 
area or it may extend almost to the ventral border of the body. Again it may 
be so intermixed with buffy hairs that instead of showing clear black it appears 
as a uniformly grizzled drab, with all intermediate gradations of coloring. The 
color of the underparts in the youngest specimens varies from a uniform buff to 
ochraceous-buff and ochraceous, but in the adults the buff is often confined to 
the sides and abdomen and shades into ochraceous on the inguinal region and 
into ferruginous on the chest and throat. Others, however, have the inguinal 
area buff like the sides and abdomen. Again, the ferruginous of the throat may 
extend ventrally upon the abdomen, reaching an extreme in the case of an old 
female that has the entire belly and sides suffused with this color. Some have 
the abdominal surface nearly clear drab. All the specimens show the white 
nuchal patch except one or two highly colored adults in which this area is suf- 
fused with the buff or the ferruginous of the sides and belly. The white spot 
varies from a narrow streak 6 mm. wide and 12 mm. long to a blotch about 
20 by 25 mm. 
The great difference in color between S. paradoxus and S. cubanus has been 
pointed out by Dr. J. A. Allen. In the Cuban species the pelage is finer and 
longer. The dorsum is more uniformly dark without the admixture of lighter 
hairs. The uniform dark color of the back continues on to the feet, the thighs, 
forearms and chest while the greater part of the head and part of the mid-ventral 
area are pale yellowish, or in aleoholie specimens nearly white. 
External measurements.— The following measurements are of ten adults, 
a young male, and a second younger animal, a female, but three days old, born in 
