154 Zoological Society. 



positis ; ultimo supra angustissimo ; molaribus infra inter se fer^ 

 aequalibus, ultimo minor e. 



Perfe5 5-dactyli, ambulatorii; halluce breviore ; unguibus parvulis, 

 compressis ; plantis denudatis. 



EcHiNOPs Tklfairi. Ech. auribus mediocribus, suhrotundatis intils 

 atque extus pilis parvulis albidis obsitis ; capite superne pilisfus- 

 cis; buccis, mystacibus corporeque subtils sordide albis, spinis fus- 

 cescenti-albis ad basin, apicibus castanets ; caudd vix apparente. 



unc. lin. 



Longitudo corporis totius 5 2 



ab apice rostri ad auris basin . . 1 2 



tarsi, digitorumque ,, 10^ 



■ auris „ 5 



Habitat. Madagascar ? 



" Sokinah" of the Natives of Madagascar? 



In the upper jaw the incisors are four in number, and apart; the two 

 middle are large, sub- cylindrical, elongated, and placed at the apex 

 of the jaw ; the two others are small, and seated behind the former. 

 Separated from these by a small space, succeed the canines, similar 

 in character to the incisors, but stouter and with a slight posterior 

 notch. The molars are five on each side : the first false and simple ; 

 the three next transversely elongated, with two external tubercles in 

 contact, and one internal ; hence their crowns assume the form of an 

 elongated triangle, the apex being internal ; the fifth molar is a 

 slender lamina transversely j)laced, but not advancing so far laterally 

 as the molar preceding it. 



The under jaw presents two small incisors, somewhat apart from 

 each other, and directed obliquely forwards; behind these there 

 follow on each side in succession three larger and conical teeth, di- 

 rected obliquely forwards, and which may be regarded a.» false molars. 

 Separated from the last of these by a small space, succeed four molars 

 on each side, vertical and smaller than those above, with two tuber- 

 cles internally and one externally, so that the worn surface is trian- 

 gular, with the apex outwards ; the last is the smallest : the surfaces 

 of all are apart, but their bases are in contact. 



Mr. Martin observes, that this system of dentition (very distinct 

 from that which characterizes the Tenrecs, (Centenes,) and the ge- 

 nus Ericulus of Isidore GeofFroy) presents us with characters which 

 decidedly separate Echinops from Erinaceus, notwithstanding their 

 approximation. In Erinaceus the upper incisors are six ; there are 

 no canines, but three false molars on each side, and four true molars, 

 of which the last is small and narrow ; the others square, with two 

 outer and two inner tubercles ; while in the lower jaw, the incisors. 



