On Caprolagus, a new genus of Leporine Mammalia, 163 
In Dr. Barton’s ‘ Compendium Flore Philadelphicz’ this plant 
is named “ wild potato-vine.” It is common in the swamps of 
New Jersey, but more abundant perhaps in East Florida, where 
the writer of this article, in exploring that desolate country be- 
fore its cession to the United States, found its tuberculous roots 
to be a most excellent suecedaneum for the potato. 
The root. mentioned in Smith’s ‘ History of Virginia’ under 
the name of Tockawhoughe, which some have supposed to be the 
potato, is the plant called in Jefferson’s ‘Notes on Virginia’ 
Tuckahoe, the Lycoperdon tuber. It has no resemblance to the 
potato. 
Thus there is no evidence whatever, that either the colonists of 
Roanoke or those of James Town had ever seen the potato among 
the natives of those countries ; and we are warranted in asserting 
that there has not been a single instance of this plant being ob- 
served in a wild state in any part of the United States by any of 
the numerous botanists who have assiduously explored our coun- 
try. Should it be found in those extensive tracts which yet in- 
vite research, happy will the discoverer be to whom this honour 
shall belong of adding to our flora a production, that, on the 
score of utility, is worthy to be ranked among those vegetables 
which greatly contribute to the wealth of nations by augmenting 
the sustenance of man. 
XXIV.—Description of Caprolagus, a new genus of Leporine 
Mammalia. By E. Buyru, Esq., Curator of the Asiatic So- 
ciety’s Museum *. 
In the ‘ Bengal Sporting Magazine’ for August 1843, p. 131, 
Mr. Pearson has described an animal by the name Lepus hispidus, 
which I have long been very desirous of examining, and have 
sought to procure by every opportunity that has offered ; and the 
Society has at length been favoured with a fine specimen of it 
by our esteemed correspondent and contributor, Major Jenkins, 
Political Agent in Assam. 
As I fully expected, this animal has proved to be not satisfac- 
torily admissible into Lepus, as the limits of generic divisions are 
now currently accepted, but must be regarded as a third generic 
type of the Leporina, Waterhouse ; or rather it is a very strongly 
marked modification of the Lepus subtype, and not so distinct a 
form (equivalent to Lepus) as is that of Lagomys. In all its more 
essential characters it is akin to Lepus, but exhibiting very con- 
siderable modification in the various details of its structure. The 
head is large, the eyes small, the whiskers slight and inconspi- 
* From the Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, No, 76. 
