THE MAGAZINE 



OF 



NATURAL HISTORY 



JULY, 1840. 



Art. I. — View of the Fauna of Brazil, anterior to the last Geologi- 

 cal Revolution. By Dr. Lund. 



(Continued from page 259.) 



Third Order MYOIDEA. 



Family of Rodents. 



The most numerous genus of this family is the genus Musy 

 of which I am acquainted with six species, indigenous to 

 this district, besides two which have been introduced, the 

 one from Europe {Mus. musculus), the other, as I suspect, 

 from Asia {Mus setosus, mihi.) The abundant remains of 

 this genus that I have collected from the caverns, prove its 

 existence in the ancient world. The species, difficult to dis- 

 tinguish by external characters, are still more so when we 

 have nothing more than fragments of their skeletons. Among 

 the remains hitherto obtained, I can distinguish two, or per- 

 haps three extinct species, without being able to speak more 

 decidedly as to their relation to those still existing. 



Next to the genus Mus, with reference to the number of spe- 

 cies, follows that of Echimys [Loncheres, 111.), or spiny rats. 

 This genus comprises here four species, as distinguishable 

 from each other by their outward form, as they are closely 

 allied in their internal structure. The largest species [E. 

 apereoides, mihi), bears the most striking resemblance to the 

 Pered [Ancema Aperea) in size, colour, form, and whole ap- 

 pearance ; excepting that it is provided with a long and very 

 hairy tail. It has no trace of spines ; and its hair is of ordi- 



VoL. IV.— No. 43. N. s. 2 p 



