444 HTSTBICIDJE. 



316. Hystrix hodgsoni. The cresiless Himalayan Porcupine. 



Acanthion hodgsonii, Gray, P. Z. S. 1847, p. 101. 



Hystrix alophus, Hodgson, J. A. S. B. xvi, p. 771, pi. xxxii (1847). 



Hystrix hodgsoni, Waterhouse, Mammalia, ii, p. 461. 



Hystrix longicauda, Blyth, Cat. p. 129, partim ; Jerdon, Mam. p. 221, 



nee Marsden. 



Anchotia dumsi, Nepalese ; Sathung, Lepcha ; O-e, Limbu ; Midi, Ca- 

 chari ; Subon-dem, Manipuri ; Suku, Kuki ; Sisi, Daphla ; Tuigon, Soke, 

 Liso, Vikhd, Sekru, Naga. 



No crests on head, neck, or shoulders as a rule, but occasionally 

 a few bristles, slightly longer than the neighbouring spines, in a 

 line on the back of the neck. Anterior portion of body, limbs, 

 and abdomen covered with short flexible spines, flattened and 

 deeply grooved, with hair-like terminations. Longer rigid spines 

 and, scattered amongst them, still longer thin flexible spines, some of 

 the latter often 10 inches in length, on the loins and rump. In the 

 skull the nasals are about 2| times the length of the frontals and 

 have a convex posterior termination. 



Colour dark brown, blackish on the limbs. A narrow band of 

 white-tipped spines forms a collar in front of the neck ; longer quills 

 of the back having sometimes the base, sometimes the tip, some- 

 times both white. Tail-quills of black and white mixed. 



Dimensions. Head and body 23 inches, tail 4, or with the quills 

 8 ; basal length of skull 4-4, zygomatic breadth 2-5. Weight 16 to 

 20 Ibs. 



Distribution. The lower slopes of the Himalayas in Nepal and 

 Sikhim up to about 5000 feet, and Assam. A crestless porcupine 

 inhabits Burma and other countries east of the Bay of Bengal, 

 but whether the present species or H. longicauda is uncertain. 



Habits. According to Hodgson these porcupines are monoga- 

 mous, living in burrows, and resembling H. leucura in habits and 

 food. They breed in spring and produce usually two young. The 

 flesh is excellent and is much esteemed. 



317. Hystrix bengalensis. The Bengal Porcupine. 



Hystrix bengalensis, Blyth, J. A. S. B. xx, p. 170 (1851); id. Cat. 



p. 128 ; id. Mam. Birds Burma, p. 42 ; Jerdon, Mam. p. 220. 

 Sajru, Bengali : Phyu, Burmese. 



This resembles H. hodgsoni and H. longicauda in size and general 

 character, having only a very few long and slender quills intermixed 

 with the ordinary weapon-quills. The latter are much longer and 

 thicker than in H. hodgsoni, and the body -spines are still flatter 

 and more strongly grooved and terminate towards the neck in 

 slight setae, towards the quills in rigid points. There is a distinct 

 but small thin crest, the longest bristles of which measure 5 or 

 6 inches and are tipped with white for the terminal third ; and 

 the white demi-collar is stronglv marked. O-eneral colour as in 



