220 
fore-feet with the middle claw largest, the two next less, the remain- 
ing two much less; those of the hind-feet vertical, truncated. 
M. rerrapactyta, Linn. (Africana, Desm.) 
Scales large, three on each side in every transverse row, striated to 
the tip, which is square, with a point projecting from the middle, 
the lower ones at the sides and the lateral ones beneath the tail cari- 
nate; tail double the length of the body, a little narrowed at the 
base, soon becoming broad ; limbs only scaled at the base, then 
covered with black hairs like the under parts; fore-feet with the 
middle claw very long and compressed, the index and annularis much 
less and nearly equal, the minimus less still, the inner toe very small; 
hind-feet with lengthened claws, nearly equal. 
M. muttiscutatTa, Gray, Proc. Z. 8. Feb. 1843. 
Five scales on each side of the median one im every transverse row; 
scales striated to the tip, which is square, with a median point; 
those on the sides of the trunk and limbs, and the lateral ones be- 
neath the tail, carinate ; tail nearly double the length of the body, of 
moderate width ; under parts with short whitish brown hairs ; fore- 
limbs scaled to the carpus ; toes all well-developed, except the thumb, 
which is small, the medius longest ; hind-feet scaled nearly to the 
base of the claws, which are all lengthened and well-developed, ex- 
cept the thumb, which is small; the annularis nearly as long as the 
medius. 
M. aurita, Hodgson. 
Fam. 5. ORYCTEROPODID&. 
The nasal bones long and much spread out behind, narrowed and 
not projecting anteriorly ; the intermaxillaries well-developed, pro- 
minent below, not enclosing foramina; the maxillary bones length- 
ened and deep, provided with compound teeth; the palate termina- 
ting soon with a strong transverse ridge, having a pair of large poste- 
rior palatine foramina ; the lacrymal bone large, extending much upon 
the face; the malar bone large, extending much upon the face, but 
its zygomatic process small and slender; the frontal bone large and 
swollen, with a small and contracted post-orbital process ; the parie- 
tals extended downwards at their anterior inferior angles to articulate 
with the alisphenoids; the zygoma slender, twisted as in the Arma- 
dilloes ; a strong post-articular and a post-auditory process, and just 
within the latter a short truncate styloid process, not enclosed by any 
vaginal process, as the tympanic bone is much reduced and separate ; 
the occipital condyles hemicylindrical, but with a portion of articular 
surface continued from them upon the lower edge of the foramen 
magnum ; the paroccipital processes in a line with them, but distinetly 
separated. 
As this family consists, so far as is yet satisfactorily known, of a 
single species, its characters might be multiplied to almost any extent ; 
should another form be discovered, they will of course need revision. 
