THE WEST AFRICAN RIVER SHREW. 
363 
the name of Solenodon paradoxus , in his “ Natural History of Cuba,” which appeared in 1851. Later, 
however, Professor Peters, having procured a specimen from Cuba, and compared it with the one from 
St. Domingo in the museum at St. Petersburg, found that the two animals were quite distinct, and 
described the Almiqui of Professor Poey under the name of Solenodon cubanus. 
The Cuban animal is of nearly the same size as that from St. Domingo, measuring in a straight 
line from the point of the nose to the root of the tail a little more than eleven inches. Of this the 
head makes about 4* inches. The stout, scaly tail is 7 J inches in length. The hairs of the general 
surface of the body are very long, and form a soil/ of cloak for the animal, leaving its hinder 
part bare in a very singular manner. The colours are rather different in the Cuban species. The 
whole of the head, the neck, the chest, and the sides of the belly are tawny or yellowish, and the rest 
of the body, a streak on the nape of the neck, and another in the middle of the belly, are brown or 
blackish-brown. The legs are clothed with hair like that on the body, but shorter ; and the upper 
surface of the feet has a scanty covering of short hairs which allow the skin to appear through them, 
and even this ceases towards the extremities of the toes. The teats in both species are situated on the 
groin. 
The Cuban Solenodon is found in the mountains near Trinidad and Bayamo, in the southern and 
western parts of the island of Cuba. It is a nocturnal animal, coming forth late in the afternoon or 
in the evening, and amusing itself with various gambols during the night. It appears to be a predaceous 
animal, and in captivity shows signs of great excitement when a fowl or other animal pusses by its 
cage. According to one observer, it will tear a chicken to pieces in a moment with its strong claws. 
At sight of a possible prey the long hair of its body stands on end. When sleeping during the day it 
seeks some corner in which it can stow away its head, and seems then to think that it is in a place of 
security, for when pursued it takes refuge in a shelter of the same kind, and will remain there until it 
is captured by seizing its tail. When disturbed in its repose it expresses its displeasure by grunting ; 
and its ordinary voice, which is said to be very penetrating, is described as something between the 
grunt of a Pig and the cry of a bird. When enjoying itself at night it sometimes hoots like an Owl. 
The occurrence of these two animals in the large West Indian islands is an exceedingly remark- 
able fact in the geographical distribution of animals, when we consider that in the general opinion of 
zoologists their nearest relations are the Tanrecs of Madagascar, and the Potamogale or River Shrew 
of some West African rivers. Professor Peters indeed remarks that the circumstance is the less sur- 
prising, as a certain type of Iguanidce, otherwise peculiar to America, is represented in Madagascar, 
where also are found species belonging to two American genera of Snakes. But this does not explain 
the phenomenon. Mr. A mire w Murray maintains that the relationship of Solenodon is rather with 
the Shrews than with the present family, and, in fact, that they are peculiar and gigantic Shrews, 
which would certainly lessen the difficulty, seeing that there are plenty of Shrews in North America ; 
but his arguments are by no means conclusive. Mr. 
Wallace, alluding to the occurrence in Europe of 
fossil remains referred to the Centetidos, regards 
this as a case of a type formerly very widely 
distributed being now broken up, and represented only 
at or near the two extremities of its greatest range. 
FAMILY YI. — POTAMOGALIDAE. 
This family includes only a single species, so that 
its characters may be indicated as part of the descrip- 
tion of the animal itself, namely 
THE WEST AFRICAN RIVER SHREW* 
This was originally described by its discoverer, 
M. Du Chaillu, as a Carnivore, under the name of 
Cy nogale velox, but as its characters were very doubtful, the name Potamogale was suggested for it in 
UPPER JAW OF WEST AFRICAN RIVER SHREW. 
( Twice Natural Size. From Trans. Zool. Soc.). 
Potamogale velox . 
