HYSTRICID-E. 441 



Family HYSTRICID^E. 



The porcupines and their near allies constitute this family and 

 are easily recognized by their fur being more or less completely 

 modified into spines. Spines, it is true, occur is some other rodents, 

 but not to the same extent. 



The form is robust (the largest Indian rodents belong to this 

 family) and the limbs subequal. The clavicles are imperfect in all 

 Indian forms ; the fibula distinct. The zygoinatic arch is stout, 

 the malar bone not supported below by a continuation of the 

 maxillary zygomatic process. Infraorbital opening large. The 

 angular portion of the mandible arises from the outer side of the 

 bony socket of the lower incisor. Facial part of the skull short 

 and broad. Molars with external and internal enamel plaits, 

 semirooted in all Indian genera. 



Two genera occur within Indian limits. 



A. Tail short, spinose, with hollow quills at the end HYSTBIX. 



B. Tail long, scaly, with a tuft of bristles at the end ATHEBTJBA. 



Genus HYSTRIX, L. (1766). 

 Syn. Acanthion, Cuv. ; Acanthochcerus, Gray. 



Body covered with rigid spines, some longer flexible spines being 

 added on the back, the stoutest spines attached to the loins and 

 rump. Tail short, spinose, and having at the 

 end a bundle of slender-stalked open quills. 

 Muzzle blunt. Mammae 6. 



In the skull the nasal bones are well develop- 

 ed, much more so, however, in some species than 

 in others. There are large air-sinuses in the 

 frontals. Nasal cavity usually very large. 



Dentition: i. ^ pm. J-^j, m. 3^3' The upper 

 grin ding-teeth with one internal and three or 

 four external folds ; the folds become, with wear, 

 loops of enamel inside the margin of the 



'of 14 ri*t u^er tooth ' Lovver teeth similar but with the folds 

 pVipp^ 8 tep'th of reversed. 

 H. leuwTxl. Vertebra : C. 7, D. 15, L. 4, S. 4, C. 10-12. 

 Toes 5 5, the pollex small. 



Synopsis of Indian, Geylonese, and Burmese Species. 



A. A crest of bristles 6 to 12 inches long or more 



on neck and shoulders S. leucura, p. 442. 



B. Crest present but less than 6 inches long H. bengalcnsi*, p. 444. 



C. Crest wanting or quite rudimentary S. hodgsow, p. 444. 



