ATHERURA. 361 
The two genera, Atherura and Hystrix, which compose this sub- 
family, are distinguished by long tail and flattened spines (A¢herura), 
and short tail and round spines (ys¢rix). 
GENUS ATHERURA—THE LONG-TAILED PORCUPINE. 
Nasal part of skull moderate; upper molars with one internal and 
three or four external folds, the latter soon separated as enamel loops ; 
the lower teeth similar but reversed ; the spines are flattened and chan- 
nelled ; the tail long and scaly, with a tuft of bristles at the end. 
No. 402. ATHERURA FASCICULATA. 
The Brush-tailed Porcupine. 
Hasitat.—Assam, Khasia hills, Tipperah hills, Burmah, Siam, and 
the Malayan peninsula. 
DescripTion.—‘‘ The general tint of the animal is yellowish-brown, 
freckled with dusky brown, especially on the back; the spines, taken 
separately, are brown white at the root, and become gradually darker to 
the point ; the points of the spines on the back are very dark, being of 
a blackish-brown colour. The long and stout bristles, which are mixed 
with the spines on the back, are similarly’ coloured” (Waterhouse, 
‘Mammalia,’ vol. il. p. 472). The spines are flat on the under-surface 
and concave on the upper, sharply pointed and broadest near the root. 
Mixed with the spines on the back are long bristles, very stout, pro- 
jecting some three inches beyond the spines, which are only about an 
inch in length; below these is a scanty undergrowth of pale coloured 
hairs ; the tail is somewhat less than half the length of the head and 
body, scaly, and at the end furnished with a large tuft of flattened bristles 
from three to four inches long, of a dirty white colour, with sometimes 
dusky tips ; the ears are semi-ovate ; whiskers long and stout, and of a 
brown colour; muzzle hairy; feet short, five toes, but the thumb very 
small, with a short rounded nail. 
S1ze.—Head and body, 18 inches ; tail, exclusive of tuft, 74 inches. 
Specimens of this animal were sent home to the Zoological Gardens, 
from Cherrapoonjee in the Khasia hills, by Dr. Jerdon. This species 
is almost the same as the African form (A. Africana). They are about 
the same in size and formand in generalappearance. This last is found 
in such plenty, according to Bennett, in the Island of Fernando Po 
as to afford a staplearticle of food to the inhabitants. Blyth was of 
opinion that the Indian animal is much paler and more freckled than 
the African. © 
