OF THE DIABLOTIN IN POM INK.' A. 
30 
There can be no doubt that the Manicou is a recent introduction 
into the Island of Dominica, for Atwood most distinctly states : — 
“ There arc no quadrupeds, natives of Dominica, except the Indian Coney, 
which is nearly the size of a rabbit when full grown. This animal is very 
singular ; its head, ears, eyes, nose, mouth, and teeth, being exactly like those 
of a rat : and its body and legs like those of a hog; the latter in particular, 
being hoofed like that animal."* 
This description, of course, refers to the Agouti, which still 
exists in the island of Dominica. Had an animal of such 
destructive habits as the Manicou been native to the island in 
Atwood’s time, he certainly would have recorded it, for its ravages 
must have forced its presence on his attention. We must therefore 
accept as correct, that the Manicou is a recent introduction, and 
the account given me when in Dominica, that they originated from 
a pair that escaped from confinement in 1832, may be the correct 
one. I have not seen a specimen of the Dominica animal, and 
therefore am not in a position to decide whether it is the Virginian 
Opossum, as I was informed in Dominica. It seems to me to be 
far more likely that it is the Grenada Opossum, introduced from 
that island. 
When Pore du Tertro made his observations in the West Indies, 
nearly two centuries and a half ago, the Manicou was evidently 
confined to the island of Grenada. He describes it with great 
exactitude, and the geographical position of that island at once 
points to the surmise, that the Manicou reached Grenada from the 
mainland of South America by accidental introduction. I should 
be surprised to learn that the Manicou of Dominica is not the 
tropical American form of Opossum, Didelplnj* ranrnvora. This 
animal appears to be an inhabitant of St. Vincent, West Indies, 
from which island an example was sent to the Zoological Gardens, 
London, in 1880 (cf. ‘List of Animals,’ 1883. p. 19!). 
* Atwood, pp. 45, -Kb 
