366 Mammalia OF INDIA. 
No. 405. HysTrix (ACANTHION) LONGICAUDA. 
The Crestless Porcupine ( Jerdon’s No. 206). 
Native Names. — Anchotia-sahi or Anchotia-dumsi in Nepal; 
Sathung, Lepcha; O’—e of the Limbus (Hodgson). (N.B.—The ch 
must not be pronounced as 4 but as ch in church.) <Avchotia means 
crestless, the crested porcupine being called Chotia-dumsi. 
Hasritat.—Nepal and Sikim, and on through Burmah to the Malayan 
peninsula, where it was first discovered. 
DESCRIPTION.—Distinguished from the other species “ by its inferior 
size, total absence of crest on its head, neck, and shoulders, by its 
longer tail, by the white collar of the neck being evanescent, and lastly 
by the inferior size and smaller quantity of the spines or quills,”— 
FTodgson. 
It is covered with black spinous bristles from two to three inches 
long, shortest on the head and limbs. The large quills of the back and 
croup are from seven to twelve inches long, mostly with one central 
black ring. 
S1ze.—Head and body, 24 inches ; tail, 4, or with the quills, 53 inches. 
This is Hodgson’s H. alophus, which is, I think, a more appropriate 
name than the one given, for its tail is not so very long in proportion. 
Hodgson says of it: ‘They breed in spring, and usually produce two 
young about the time the crops ripen. ‘They are monogamous, the pair 
dwelling together in burrows of their own formation. ‘Their flesh is 
delicious, like pork, but much more delicate flavoured, and they are 
easily tamed so as to breed in confinement. All tribes and classes, even 
high-caste Hindoos, eat them, and it is deemed lucky to keep one or 
two alive in stables, where they are encouraged to breed. Royal stables 
are seldom without at least one of them.” 
This animal was described by Gray as Acanthion Hodgsonii, the 
lesser Indian porcupine. Waterhouse, in writing of Aystrix (Acanthion) 
Javanica, says: ‘The habits of the animal, as recorded by Miiller, do not 
differ from those of A. Hodgsonii” ; and Blyth, as mentioned by Jerdon, 
was of opinion that the two species were one and the same. The Acan- 
thocherus Grotei, described and figured by Dr. Gray in 1866 (‘P. Z. SY’ 
p. 306), is the same as this species. It is to be found at Darjeeling 
amongst the tea plantations, between 4000 and 5000 feet elevation. 
No. 406. Hystrrx YUNNANENSIS. 
Hasitat.—Burmah, in the Kakhyen hills, at elevations of from 2000 
to 4500 feet. 
DescripTion—after Dr. Anderson, who first discovered and named 
