18 



In the upperjato the incisors are four in number, and apart ; the two 

 middle are large, sub-cylindrical, elongated, and placed at tbe apex 

 of the ja\v ; the two others are small, and seated behind the former. 

 Separated from these by a small space, succeed the canines, similar 

 in character to the incisors, but stouter and with a slight posterior 

 notch. The molars are five on each side : the first falše and simple ; 

 the three next transversely elongated, with two external tubercles in 

 contact, and one intemal; hence their crowns assume the form of an 

 elongated triangle, the apex being intemal ; the fifth molar is a 

 slender lamina transversely placed, but not advancing so far laterally 

 as the molar preceding it. 



The under jaw presents two small incisors, somewhat apart from 

 each other, and directed obliquely for\vards ; behind these there 

 follow on each side in succession three larger and conical teeth, di- 

 rected obhquely forwards, and which may be regarded asfalse molars. 

 Separated from the lašt of these by a small space, succeed four molars 

 on each side, vertical and smaller than those above, \vith two tuber- 

 cles internally and one extemally, so that the wom surface is trian- 

 gular, \vith the apex outwards ; the lašt is the smallest : the surfaces 

 of all are apart, but their bases are in contact. 



Mr. Martin observes, that this system of dentition (very distinct 

 from that which characterizes the Tenrecs, {Centenes,) and the ge- 

 nus Ericulus of Isidore GeofFroy) presents us with characters •vvhich 

 decidedly separate Echinops from Erinaceus, notwithstanding their 

 approximation. In Erinaceus the upper incisors are six ; there are 

 no canines, but three falše molars on each side, and four true molars, 

 of which the lašt is small and narrow ; the others sqiiare, with two 

 outer and two inner tubercles ; while in the lower ja\v, the incisors, 

 two in number, are very large, foUo\ved on each side by two falše 

 molars, and four true molars. In Echinops, as in Erinaceus, the feet 

 have five toes ; the thumb of the fore-feet is small and seated on tlie 

 "vvrist, the other toes are smaU, and armed ^vith feeble, compressed, 

 hooked claws, the lašt toe the smallest : the toes of the hind-feet 

 resemble those of the fore-feet, and the inner and outer are the 

 smallest. The snout, ears, tail, and spiny covering of the upper sur- 

 face of the body, as in Erinaceus. 



In addition to the above description of the external characters of 

 Echinops, Mr. Martin communicated to the Meeting some details of 

 the anatomy of the soft parts, but the condition of the specimen was 

 not such as to enable him to give any very complete account of the 

 appearances presented by the internal organs. 



The skidl, as compared \vith that of Erinaceus, was proportion- 

 ally very inferior in size; it was more level above, and narrow'er, 

 the cranial cavity being contracted, and the muzzle shorter. The 

 occipito-parietal ridge was elevated, the zygomatic arches were 

 almost obsolete. The palate was narro\v, and the posterior yor«»i/wff, 

 which in the hedgehog are large open fissures, \vere reduced to mi- 

 nute orifices. 



The pelvis was very narro\v, and the pubic bones were separate 

 in front. 



