306 Dr» A. Hall on the Mammals and Birds 



a thick muzzle ; tongue scaly ; fore feet 4-dactyle and a rudimen- 

 tary thumb ; hind feet 5-dactyle ; body covered with spines inter- 

 mixed with the hair ; tail more or less long, in some foreign spe- 

 cies prehensile, 



H. dorsata. Porcupine. 



H. pilosus of Catesby ! 



Cavia Hudsonius of Rlim ! 



H. Hudsonius of Brisson ! 



Erithrezon dorsatum of Cuvier ! 



Erethizon dorsatus. Baird ! 



v.s.p. Length of head and body 30 inches; of tail 8 inches; 

 fur over body above and beneath blackish brown externally in- 

 termixed superiorly with white hairs and spinous quills, which 

 are spindle-shaped and very sharp, brown, and at other times tipped 

 with white ; the upper lip is covered with a yellowish brown fur 

 assuming a deeper tint on the forehead and sides of the head ; tail 

 brown, with a fine white hair on the tip ; the hairs which cover 

 the upper surface of the feet, curve downwards near the soles, and 

 being worn by constant friction on the ground, form a thick mar- 

 ginal brush, which fits the animal for walking on the snow ; eyes 

 lateral, small and round ; ears much concealed by the fur, in many 

 instances barely perceptible. This animal forms the type of the 

 Hystrix tribe of M. F. Cuvier. A specimen in the Museum of the 

 Natural History Society of Montreal measures : 



From the tip of the nose to the tip of the tail, 36 inches. 



Length of the tail including fur Y " 



Distance between the eyes 2j- " 



Greatest height from ground including fur.. . 12 " 



Genus Lepus. 

 Gen. char. Incisors |, canines wanting, molars || = 28. Upper 

 incisors in pairs ; two cuneiform, with a longitudinal groove an- 

 teriorly, the other two smaller ; lower ones square ; molars with 

 flat crowns and transverse laminae of enamel ; ears and eyes large ; 

 fore feet 5-dactyle ; hind feet 4-dactyle. Fore legs short, hind 

 legs long ; hind feet with slightly arched nails ; tail short, recli- 

 nate or erect; mammae 6 to 18 ; caecum large. 



L. Americanus. American hare. 

 L. Hudsonicus of Pallas ! 



v.s.p. Length 20 inches ; tail including fur 2J- inches. Su- 

 mer pelage : blackish grey at the roots, and yellowish brown at the 



