862 
NATURAL HISTORY . 
the outer incisors in the lower jaw — the specific name to the paradoxical nature of the animal itself. 
Professor Peters’ interpretation of the dentition, which was long a subject of doubt, is now generally 
accepted, and according to this, there are in the front of the upper jaw two large, acute incisors, with 
a smaller one placed a little further back on each side ; and in the middle of the lower jaw two very 
small incisors, with immediately on each side of them one of the large canine-like teeth, with a deep 
groove or channel on tlu* inner surface, which have already been alluded to. Behind these teeth come 
in each jaw a canine, four premolars, and three true molars, so that the dental formula, according to this 
view, is — incisors, canines, ]*J, premolars, and molars, ;;Jj, making forty teeth in all. 
The premaxillary bones extend some little distance in front of the roots of the upper incisor teeth, 
but the nose itself is prolonged considerably beyond them, forming a long, slender proboscis. The eyes 
are small, and the ears of moderate size, and rounded ; the body is covered with rather stiff* hairs, 
which, however, leave the hinder part, from the root of the tail downwards, almost naked ; the tail is 
THE AO OUT A. 
long, tapering, and ringed, with a few scattered, very short hairs ; the legs are of moderate length, and 
the feet, all of which have five toes, are nearly naked, or covered only with short hair. 
The Agouta, or Solenodon of St. Domingo, has the face, head, and upper parts brown, becoming 
blackish behind and on the thighs ; the sides of the head and neck lighter brown, with a mixture 
of red and grey ; the belly and feet tawny brown : the breast bright rust colour ; and the tail 
greyish towards the base, and white towards the tip. 
Of the habits of this animal, long supposed to be the only species of its genus, nothing is 
recorded; but its teeth very clearly indicate a carnivorous or insectivorous diet, and j.t<? habits, in all 
probability, resemble those of the following species. 
THE ALMIQTTI. * 
In 1838, or nearly five years after the publication of Professor Brandt’s description of the 
preceding animal, Professor Poey, of Havana, detected the existence of a Solenodon in some cf the 
mountainous parts of the island of Cuba. He identified it with Brandt’s species, and noticed it under 
Solenodon cubanvs. 
