1 ^7 

 is,;i).] -'■'^ ' [Cope. 



LOXOMYLUS LONGIDENS, Co'pe. 



This large rodent is represented by seven molar teetli and probably 

 some incisors and bones of the skeleton; all except one tooth in the col- 

 lection made by Dr. H. E. Van Eijgersma in the caves, and cave breccia 

 taken from the caves in the island of Anguilla, West Indies. 



I cannot distinguish the incisors as belonging to this species, and they 

 are probably identical in character with those of the Amblyrhiza i n u n- 

 data, as is generally the case with nearly allied genera and species of 

 Rodents. 



A section of all except the terminal teeth is an oblique rhomboid, the 

 longitudinal diameter being but little greater than the transverse. A 

 single terminal tooth (either superior posterior or anterior inferior), is 

 narrowed in the terminal column. All the teeth possess one longitudinal 

 groove on one side and two on the other, which are covered but not ob- 

 literated by the, cement layer. The teeth, though much straighter and 

 more slender than those of Amblyrhiza, yet possess alight lateral, though 

 no antero-posterior curvature ; those of the upper and lower series curv- 

 ing in opposite directions. 



Inches. 



Length of a median molar 1.7 



Antero-posterior diameter (oblique) 52 



Transverse " (both of crown) 43 



" " terminal molar 39 



Longitudinal " " " 'TO 



One tooth of this species was taken from a mass containing molars and 

 incisors of A. inundata, and the species is without doubt of identical 

 age with it. Its molars indicate a less robust animal; but I find no in- 

 cisors which indicate an animal of generally small size. An inferior in- 

 cisor to which adheres a portion of a molar apparently of this species, is 

 not distinguishable from that of the A. inundata. Itmeasures.il in. 

 in length and .012 in width anteriorly. This species was probably as 

 large as but more slender than the Amplyrhiza. 



The Island of Anguilla could not readily have supported a fauna of 

 which these huge rodents formed a part. Sucli large animals have no doubt 

 ranged over a more extended territory. This, and other facts mentioned 

 by Pomel, lend probability to the hypothesis of the latter author, that the 

 submergence of the ranges connecting many of the Islands of the Antilles 

 has taken place subsequent to Pliocene times. 



Associated with the preceding remains, Dr. Rijger.sma discovered a 

 highly interesting relic of the stone age of the human inhabitants of this 

 portion of the West Indian Islands. I use the term stone age in a chrono- 

 logical sense only, since the region in question possess chiefly coral rock, 

 and little or none that is adapted for conversion into cutting instruments, 

 so that" the inhabitants resorted to the use of animal products, as teeth, 

 bones and shells. The implement found by Dr. Rijgersma is a long ovate 

 spoon-shaped scraper or knife, cut by human hands from the lip of the 

 large Strombus g i g a s . The ribs of the external surface and the smo.oth 



