RODENTIA. 153 



Myopotamus, Commer. 



The Couias resemble the Beaver in size, in their four nearly similarly 

 composed molars, in their powerful yellow-tinted incisors, and in 

 their five-toed feet, the hinder ones of which arepalmated; but their 

 tail is round and elongated. They are aquatic animals also. One 

 only is known, the 



M. coipus ; Mus coipus, Molin., Geoff. Ann. Mus. VI, pi. 

 XXXV. (The Couia.) Which lives in burrows along the banks 

 of rivers throughout a great part of South America. The fur, 

 which is of a yellowish grey, mixed with down at the root, is 

 employed by the hatters like that of the Beaver, and is conse- 

 quently an important article of commerce. Thousands of their 

 skins are sent to Europe. 



HystriXj Lin. 



The Porcupines are known at the first glance by the stiff and sharp 

 spines, or quills (as they are called) with which they are armed, like 

 the Hedgehogs among the Carnaria. Their grinders are four through- 

 out, with flat crowns, variously modified by plates of enamel, between 

 which are depressed intervals. Their tongue is bristled with spiny 

 scales, and their clavicles are too small to rest upon the sternum 

 and scapula, being merely suspended by ligaments. They live in 

 burrows, and have many of the habits of Rabbits. To their grunt- 

 ing voice, and thick truncated muzzle, are they indebted for being 

 compared to the Pig, and for their corresponding French appellation 

 oi pore-epic. 



Porcupines, properly so called. 



Have the head more or less convex or vaulted, by the development 

 of the bones of the nose. They have four toes before, and five be- 

 hind, all armed with stout nails. 



H. cristata., L. ; Buff. XII, pi. li and lii. (The Common Por- 

 cupine.) Inhabits the south of Italy, Spain, and Sicily; it is 

 also found in Barbary. The spines are very long, and annu- 

 lated with black and white ; a mane composed of long hairs 

 occupies the head and neck. The tail is short, and fur- 

 nished with hollow truncated tubes, suspended to slender pedi- 

 cles, which make a noise when shaken by the animal. The 

 chanfrin of the bony head is extremely convex. There are 

 other species not very different, but with a less convex head, in 

 India and in Africa. 

 We separate from the true Porcupines the 



Vol. I. U 



