442 



HYSTRICID.E. 



One species of Hystrix is found fossil in the Pliocene Siwaliks 

 and another in the Pleistocene cave-deposits of Kurnool. 



Fig. 145. Skull of Hystrix leucura, X J. 



315. Hystrix leucura. The Indian Porcupine. 



Hystrix cristata, var. indica, Gray and Hardwicke, III. Ind. Zool. ii, 



pi. 14 (1830). 



Hystrix leucurus, Sykes, P. Z. S. 1831, p. 103 ; Elliot, Mad. Jour. L. 

 S. x, p. 218 ; Kelaart, Prod. p. 70 ; Adams, P. Z. S. 1858, p. 520 ; 

 Blyth, Cat. p. 128 ; Jerdon, Mam. p. 218. 



Hystrix \\irs\itirostns, Brandt, St. Petersb. Acad. Mem. i, 1835, p. 375 ; 

 Waterhouse, Mammalia, ii, p. 454; Blyth, J. A. S. B. xxi, p. 351. 

 Hystrix zeylonensis, Blyth, J. A. S. B. xx, p. 171 (1851). 

 Hystrix makbarica, Sctater, P. Z. S. 1805, p. 353, pi. xvi ; 1871, 



pp. 233, 234. 



Sdyi, Sdhi, Sdyal, Sarsel, H. &c. ; Sdjru, B. ; Dumsi, Chotia-dumsi, 

 Nepal ; Saori, Chaodi, Guzrati ; Salendra, Mahr. of the Ghats ; Sinkor, 

 Sindhi ; Sikhan, Baluch. ; Shkunr, Pushtu ; Hoigu, Gond.; Jekra, Korku ; 

 Jiki, Ho-Kol ; Yed, Mul-handi, Can. ; Yeddu pandi, Tel. ; Maldnpani, 

 Tarn. Mai. ; Hitava, Cingalese. 



' A crest of very long coarse bristles, from 6 or 8 inches to 

 occasionally over a foot in length, commencing on the forehead 

 and extending along the spine to the middle of the back. Muzzle 

 densely clad with hair ; fore part of body, limbs, and abdomen 

 covered with short spines mingled beneath with hair, the loins and 

 base of tail with long spines, those situated anteriorly long and 

 flexible, the others on the lower back and rump stout and rigid, so 

 that the long flexible spines conceal the stouter quills except when 

 all are erected. Skull moderately convex above, the nasals being 

 nearly twice the length of the frontals, and having their lateral 

 margins subparallel and their hinder border transverse ; posterior 



