86 Desmarest on Capromys. 



feet in. lines 



Circumference of the neck ° 5 ° 



of the hody behind the fore legs 8 4 



before the hinder legs 10 4 



of the tail at the base 2 10 



. — in the middle 1 3 



— __ 6 lines from the extremity 7£ 



Length of the fore-arm between the elbow and wrist 2 3 



Breadth of the fore arm at the elbow 1 2 



Thickness of ditto ° ° 6 



Circumference of the wrist 1 11 



of the metacarpus 1 10 



Length of the wrist to the nails I 6 



of the leg from the knee to the heel 3 



Greatest breadth of the leg ° 1 1 1 



thickness of ditto 9 



Breadth at the small of the heel 11 



Circumference of the metatarsus 2 2 



Length from the heel to the point of the nails 2 11 



Breadth of the fore foot ° ° 9 



of the hind foot ° l ° 



Length of the largest nails ° ° * 



Breadth at their base ° ° ' s 



Distance from the anus to the base of the tail 9 



— — to the base of the sheath of the penis 1 2 



Length of the sheath of the penis 9 



Distance between the two anterior teats 4 6 



— posterior ditto 5 



, the first and second pair of ditto 2 6 



It will be seen by this description that the Utia is an animal, 

 whose general form is that of the rats properly so calle'l, except 

 that the body is thicker, that its hind quarters are more balky, 

 and its legs shorter and much thicker. Its hind feet are simi- 

 lar to those of the Marmot, and we may consider it as forming an 

 intermediate link between the latter animal and the true rats. 



Under these circumstances, I do not hesitate to form it into a 

 particular genus, to which I give the name of Capromys, from 

 Kairpoa- aper and (/.vt mws, indicating by this designation, a resem- 

 blance which the hard hairs of this animal, its sombre colour, and 

 its gait in running, give it to the wild boar. 



