out. This species exists only in the western part of the 

 island. 



The third species is the Capromys melanurus Poey, called 

 Andaraz in Bayamo and Hutia de hoyo (in hollows) in the 

 mountain of Guantanamo. It lives in the eastern part of 

 the island, in the holes in trees. This species has a short 

 tail, like the Hutia Congo ; its extremity is not prehensile, 

 and is covered with pretty long black hairs. 



Negroes and countrymen are fond of the flesh of Capro- 

 mys fournieri; the flesh of the other two species is not 

 esteemed. The surface of the liver of Capromys fournieri 

 is wrinkled, as represented by Gervais in la Sagra's work, 

 and I believe also by Dobson. The liver in Capr. pre- 

 hensilis and Capr. melanurus is smooth. 



Mus Linn'e. 



There are three species of this genus in Cuba. Dr. Peters 

 has classified the individuals sent by me as Mus decumanus, 

 rattus and musculus. Mr. Chapman, in his " Notes on 

 Birds and Mammals observed near Trinidad, in Cuba," 

 mentions two species, M. tectorum and musculus. I sup- 

 pose that M. tectorum is the same species named rattus by 

 Dr. Peters, because it lives on trees, in the upper parts of 

 houses, and in the roofs of rural houses when covered with 

 palm-leaves. On trees it lives in holes, or, if these are 

 lacking, in a globular nest with a lateral entrance, formed 

 of leaves and fine twigs. It is named Raton. 



The species M. deacmamcs Pallas, Rata, lives almost al- 

 ways in holes made in the ground, in sinks and drains. 



It is omnivorous, very noxious, especially in the sugar- 

 cane fields, where it- kills the plant by biting it ; it also 

 kills and eats domestic fowls and eggs, and also eats the 

 food in houses, etc. When the Rats are in danger they 

 sometimes attack persons. On the back some stiffer and 

 blackish hairs may be seen. The fur of the Rat is of a 

 grayish-brown on the upper parts, lighter on the sides and 

 white on the under parts ; and in the Raton the fur is above 



