Dr. P. L. Sclater on a new Indian Porcupine. 209 



compressed in II. malabarica, and the foramina incisiva are longer 

 and narrower. 



These and other minor peculiarities will, I think, sufficiently serve 

 to separate H. malabarica from its nearest ally, although it is of course 

 desirable that farther specimens should be obtained for comparison. 



With regard to the habits of H. malabarica, Mr. Day has kindly 

 furnished me with the following particulars : — 



" During my residence at Cochin I was informed by the natives 

 that a species of orange-coloured Porcupine was found in the neigh- 

 bouring hills, the flesh of which was more highly esteemed for food 

 than that of the common variety. It was said to be a smaller species, 

 and that the two never lived in the same locality. Small families of 

 them, I subsequently ascertained, are found in various places along 

 the ghawts of Cochin and Travancore. 



" AtTrichooe, about forty miles north-east of Cochin, there was a 

 colony of these animals. They had formed their burrows in the 

 laterite rock, in a spot from which it was impossible to reach them 

 by digging. As I was anxious to obtain one of them, the burrows 

 were stopped and a pitfall dug before two, which were the most fre- 

 quented ; brushwood was then heaped before the other apertures 

 and set on fire, but the prisoners did not venture out until they had 

 been smoked three days and nights. 



" The native sportsmen declare that the aroma from these burrows 

 is quite sufficient to distinguish the different species. 



" In 1862 I placed a pair, about a third grown, in a cage, and kept 

 them there nearly two months : although they permitted the dogs 

 and cats to steal their food, they never became tame or even friendly 

 with those who fed them. 



"They were omnivorous ; and, though quiet all day, as soon as 

 it became dusk they commenced to gnaw their cage, and continued 

 to do so until daybreak ; subsequently, when the bars were encased 

 with tin, they passed the night scratching. 



" In captivity they lose much of their orange-colour ; and its 

 vividness greatly decreases when they are ill. 



"The natives consider wounds caused by their quills to be venom- 

 ous, and the effects frequently fatal." 



It may be useful to add to this paper a list of the known species 

 of Hystrix, and their localities, arranged according to Mr. Water- 

 house's excellent system *. 



a. Species nucha cristata. 



1. H. cristata, Linn, et auct. (Acanthion Cuvieri, Gray) ; Water- 

 house, /. c. p. 448 : ex Europa merid. et Africa bor. et occ. 



2. H. Africa australis, Peters, Reise n. Moss. i. p. 170 : ex 

 Africa austr. orient. 



3. H. leucura, Sykes (II. hirsutirostris, Brandt; Waterhouse, 

 I. c. p. 454 ; H. cristata et //. leucurus, Gray) : ex Asia occiden- 

 tal! usque ad Indiam extremam. 



4. H. malabarica : ex India merid. 



* Nat. Hist. Mamm. vol. ii. p. 146 et seq. 

 Ann. $ Mag. Nat. Hist. Scr. 3. Vol. xvi 1 5 



