NATURAL HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA 



Division : Hystricomorpha 



Family : Hystricid^ 



{Porcufims) 



Stoutlv built rodent animals covered vAxh large spines. Fore 

 and hind limbs of nearly equal length. Front of the skull broad 

 and short- Nasal cavity specially large ; in the New W orld group 

 the molar teeth are fully rooted, the upper Hp undivided, collar 

 bone complete and the soles of the hind feet are covered vAxh. 

 tubercles. 



In the Old World members of the family, the molar teeth are 

 onlv partiallv rooted, coliar bones incomplete and soles of the 

 hind feet are smooth. 



There are a number of species of Porcupines grouped under 

 this family. They inhabit America, Southern Europe, Asia and 

 Africa. 



South African sfecies 

 I. Hystrix africts-austTalis, Pet. Sonth African Porcupine. 



Sub-order : DUPLICIDENTATA 

 Family : Leporid.^ 

 {Hares and Rabbits) 



Rodent animals with elongated hind hmbs, long ears, short 

 curbed tails, thick fur. Eyes large and devoid of eyehds. 



Tne collar bone is imperfect, frontal part of the skull very 

 narrow; three pairs of premolars in the upper jaw and two in 

 the lower jaw. 



South African species 



1. Lep-.is capensis typicus, Linn. The Cape Hare. 



2. Lepus capensis centralis, Thos. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (7), 



^fii- P- 3+4- (1903)- 



3. Lepus capensis granii, Thos. and Schw. P.Z.S., 1904, i. 



p. 182. 



4. Lepus capensis aquilo, Thos. and Wrought. P.Z.S.y 1907, 



p. 297. 



5. Lepus saxatilis typicus, Cuv. The Rock Hare. 



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