[Annals N. Y. Acad. Sci., Vol. XXVII, pp. 17-22, PH. I-V. 25 January, 1916] 



AN EXTINCT OCTODONT FROM THE ISLAND OF PORTO 

 RICO, WEST INDIES ^ 



By J. A. Allen 



(Presented in abstract lefore the Academy, 8 Novernber, 1915) 



CONTENTS 



Page 



Introduction 1"^ 



Description ^9 



Skull ' 19 



Dentition 20 



Scapula 21 



Clavicle v 21 



Humerus . 



21 



Ulna and radius 21 



Sacrum . 



21 



Pelvic girdle , 21 



Tibia and fibula 22 



Summary 22 



Introduction 



The mammal remains here described were taken from a cave near the 

 center of the island of Porto Rico in excavations directed by Dr. Franz 

 Boas, in charge of the anthropological division of the Natural History 

 Survey of Porto Rico, now being carried on jointly by the New York 

 Academy of Sciences and the American Museum of Natural History, in 

 cooperation with the Government of Porto Rico. These remains have 

 been kindly placed in my hands by Dr. Boas for determination. Aside 

 from a few human bones, they consist almost wholly of the bones of a 

 large rodent allied to Plagiodontia.'' With them are a few bird bones, 

 too imperfect for satisfactory identification. These have been referred to 

 Mr. W. De W. Miller, Assistant Curator in Ornithology in the American 

 Museum, who informs me that they represent, principally at least, a 

 pigeon and a parrot, the latter probably referable to the genus Amazona. 



In reply to my inquiries regarding the manner of occurrence of these 



1 Mannscript received by the Editor, 27 November, 1915. 



a There is a single dorsal vertebra of a much larger animal, as yet not determined. 



(17) 



