A. H. Verrill — Solenodon of San Domingo. 



55 



Art. V". — Notes on the Habits and External Characters of 

 the Solenodon of San Domingo {Solenodon paradoxus); 



by A. Hyatt verrill 



Although Solenodon paradoxus of San Domingo and Haiti 

 was discovered and imperfectly described as early as 1839, 

 several years before the Cuban species {Solenodon cubanus) 

 was known to science, it is still practically unknown to recent 

 zoologists. The published descriptions of this rare and inter- 

 esting mammal are vague and unsatisfactory. For many years 

 it has been commonly considered extinct, and when, in Decem- 

 ber, 1906, I undertook a collecting trip to San Domingo with 



San Domingo Solenodon {Solenodon paradoxus). 



the avowed intention of obtaining the Solenodon, prominent 

 zoologists stated that the quest was -hopeless, one of them say- 

 ing that I would be as likely to secure specimens of ghosts as 

 of Solenodon paradoxus. 



During the five months spent on the island, 1 devoted a 

 great deal of time to hunting for the Solenodon, and in inter- 

 viewing natives from the remote and little-known parts of the 

 island. 



