of the existence of a Solenodon in the island of Cuba, in the 

 paper "El Plantel," in the year 1838. The species was 

 found in the mountains between Cienfuegos and Trinidad, 

 in the estates of Buenas-Ayres, Naranjos, and Cimarrones, 

 as ascertained by the French Consul Lavallie in Cienfue- 

 gos, but he did not see the animal, and it has not been 

 observed there since ; at least no naturalist has been 

 able to procure a specimen in that locality. I do not 

 say that the species does not exist in the region ; for, being 

 myself in the mountains of Trinidad in 1856, I was told 

 by a countryman that the species existed there, and that 

 he had himself seen it ; and, as he gave me an exact descrip- 

 tion of the animal, I believe that he really saw it. The only 

 discrepancy in the description he gave of the animal, con- 

 sisted in the color of the hair, which he said was grayish, 

 which is not the color of the species in the eastern part of 

 the island. 



The first notice that Poey had of Solenodon was a skull, 

 received from Mr. Andres Porey Iacome, of Guanabacoa, 

 which had been sent to him from Bayamo. After having 

 asked for information of Macleay, of London, from Brandt's 

 work, and also from Mr. Gu^rin, of Paris, he pub- 

 lished an article in the " Plantel." Poey received after- 

 wards some living individuals from Mr. Rafael Zenea, of 

 Bayamo, which individuals were destined to the Royal 

 Economic Society of Havana. One of these individuals is 

 represented in the engraving of the first volume of Poey's 

 " Memorias." Zenea, as well as Poey and myself, says that 

 in day-time they slumbered, hiding their heads if possible, 

 .and at night were quite lively, occasionally screaming ; it 

 screamed in the same way when I killed it. 



After Mr. Poey's publication in the " Plantel," Mr. Ger- 

 vais mentions the species in a note in La Sagra's work, 

 " Historia fisica, politica y natural de la Isla de Cuba," but 

 only gives its name. 



Poey published later an extensive .treatise, with a colored 

 engraving, in his " Memorias," I., p. 23. 



