FAUNA AMERICANA. 189 



Gemis. 



Hysirix, Briss. Linn. Schreb. Cuv. Geoff. Lace}). 

 Illig. Klein. 

 Cavia, Klein. 

 Coendii, Lacep. 

 Porcupine. 



CHAKACTIiBS 



{r Incisor li, 

 superior 10. < Canine 

 C Molar 8. 

 C Incisor 2. 

 inferior 10. < Canine 0. 

 CMolai- 8. 



Superior incisors very strong, smooth anteriork, 

 cuneiform at their extremity ; the inferior strong 

 and slightly compressed laterally. 



Molars compound, with Hat crowns, surrounded 

 with a line of enamel, which traverses more or 

 less deeply the external and internal borders, and 

 appears to cut the tooth into two parts ; a few cir- 

 cular lines of enamel of a larger or smaller size. 



Head strong ; snout thick and tumid ; ears short 

 and rounded ; tongue beset with spiny scales ; an- 

 terior feet four-toed, posterior five-toed, all armed 

 with powerful nails ; a rudiment of a thumb with 

 an obtuse nail to the fore foot. 



Spines more or less long on the body, some- 

 times intermixed with hair : tail more or less long, 

 sometimes prehensile. 



Habit. Herbivorous, living principally on 



