FAMILY H EMICLAVICULATA. WITH IMPERFECT COLLAR BONES. 



41 



hole about two feet in depth, lines it with fur from her own body and 

 grass, and thus makes her nest, in which she disposes her young and 

 suckles them early in the morning and late in tlie evening for six weeks ; 

 and when she leaves them in search of food, for the first three weeks, care- 

 fully stops up the hole with earth to protect them from vermin, after which 

 time it is left open for the young to go in and out : at last she takes them 

 to the warren, and her cares for them cease. Rabbits live to eight or nine 

 years of age. 



The other species of the true Hares are the Variable Hare, found in 

 the mountainous districts of Scotland and in more northern climes ; the 

 American Hare, the Polar Hare, the Prairie Hare, the Brazilian Hare, the 

 Maussel Hare, the Cape Hare, and the Baikal Hare. 



The second class, the Lagomures, have no tail ; incisors gouge-shaped 

 behind, forming on their margin three distinct points, of which the middle 

 is produced by both teeth, molar teeth having the plates of enamel sepa- 

 rated on the inner edge by a deep groove, legs short, voice very shrill. 



Species the Calling Hare (L. Pusillus), about six inches in length ; 

 ears nearly triangular ; the fur is set in a very soft, thick down, both of a 

 brownish-lead colour, the former greyish towards the end and tipped with 

 black; under parts hoary with a yellow tinge; the eyes hazel and very 

 prominent. Found in the south-east of Russia, in the hills south of the 

 Uralian, and in the west of the Altaic Chain, and about the Irtish. They 

 prefer sunny valleys, and burrow on the western side of the hills amidst 

 the bushes ; they leave but a narrow entrance to the long galleries in which 

 they make their nests, those of the old ones and the females are numerous 

 and intricate. They live very retired, and are rarely seen except when 

 taken in the ermine-traps during the winter. Their cry is very peculiar, 

 resembling the piping of a Quail, but deeper, and so loud as to be heard at 

 the distance of half a German mile ; it is seldom uttered in the day, except 

 in cloudy and rainy weather, and is repeated four or six times at regular 

 intervals. (Plate 13.) 



The Alpine Hare, the Little Chief Hare, and the Ogotoma, of the Mongols, 

 belong to this division. 



PTEROMYS Flying Squirrel. This genus is distinguished from the 

 Squirrels, to which in form it is otherwise much allied, by the extension of 

 the skin from the sides of the body to the hind edge of the fore limbs, and 

 the front edge of the hind limbs forming a membrane somewhat resembling 

 the wing of the Bat, but differing from it in not being supported by any 

 bone. It is not, however, to be supposed that the animal is capable of 

 supporting itself in the air by means of the flying membranes ; their only 

 purpose is that of a parachute, to prevent the animal dropping so directly 

 down, as it would do without them, when darting from the higher branches 

 of trees, and thus enabling them to dart more obliquely from place to 

 place ; but as a means of ascent their wings are of no use. They are 

 nocturnal animals, feed on fruit, and are found in Asia and in North 

 America. Length of the body twenty-three inches, and of the tail twenty- 

 one ; head small, muzzle sharp, and beset with stiff black whiskers ; ears 

 small and pointed ; neck short. Is a native of Java and other Indian Isles ; 

 and, besides using its wings as a parachute, is said to cling to the branches 

 of trees with its tail. (Plate 13.) 



Other species the Bay Flying, the Dart Flying, the Bristle-cheeked 

 Flying, the Pretty Flying, the European Flying, the American Flying, and 

 the Hudson's Bay Severn River Flying Squirrel. 



HYSTRIX- -Porcupine. The covering of these animals among the 

 Rodentia resembles that of the Hedgehog among the Sarcopliaga, and like 

 it they are capable of raising the quills (which are much larger and stronger 

 than in the Hedgehog) when irritated ; in doing which the rattling of them 

 makes a loud noise, and adds to the formidable appearance which the Por- 

 cupine then makes. All of them, except the crested species, have the tail 

 long, and in some it is prehensile also. They live in burrows, and have 

 much the same habits as the Hare and Rabbit. The grunt which they 

 emit has caused their supposed resemblance to the Pig. 



The Crested Porcupine (H. Cristata) is rather more than two feet in 

 length ; has a long crest of stiff bristles on the top of the head reclining 



backwards. Native of India, Southern Tartary, Persia, Palestine, and 

 Africa ; it is also found wild in Italy, but is not indigenous, and seems to 

 have degenerated, as its quills are shorter and crestless. The assertion of 

 it shooting its quills is fabulous. 



Other species the Brazilian Porcupine (H. Prehensilis), the Malacca 

 Porcupine (H. Fasciculata), the Canada Porcupine (H. Dorsata), and the 

 Long-tailed Porcupine (H. Macroura), native of the Indian Archipelago. 



BATHYERGUS Cape Mole Rat. The two species, B. Maritimus, the 

 African Rat, and B. Capensis, the Cape Rat, are both found at the Cape 

 of Good Hope, and differ little from each other except in size. The former, 

 called "Zand Moll," is about the size of a Rabbit; and the latter, known 

 by the name " Bless Moll," is seven niches in length. 



CAVIA Cavy. This genus very much resembles the genus Hydrochcerus, 

 from which it has been separated by Cuvier, because of the material dif- 

 ference in the structure of the teeth. 



The Hock Cavy (C. Aperea) has the upper lip divided ; ears short ; 

 upper part of the body black, mottled with tawny ; throat and belly white, 

 It inhabits Brazil, living in holes of rocks, and is hunted for food, being 

 considered superior to our Rabbits. 



The Restless Cavy, or Guinea Pig (C. Cobaya), has its upper lip half 

 divided ; ears large, broad, and rounded ; hair coarse and bristly, like that 

 of a Pig. This little animal is well known, being often kept in houses, 

 under a supposition that its smell drives away the Rats. It is cheerful 

 and lively, but very shy and timid, running about continually, and making 

 a grunting kind of noise ; is much attached to the female, for which the 

 males often fight till one be killed. It is very prolific. 



CHEIROMYS Aye Aye. These animals differ from the Sciuri in shape 

 of their teeth, and in having five toes on each foot. Natives of the Island of 

 Madagascar. 



CHLOROMYS. The animals which compose this genus differ from the 

 Caviae in the form of their teeth ; there are but two species, which are 

 natives of America. 



CffiLOGENUS. Of this genus there is but one species, the Spotted Cavy 

 (C. Paca). They are sometimes called Hog Rabbits, and are natives of 

 Brazil. 



HYDROCHCERUS River Hog. This animal (H. Paraguayensis), which 

 is about the size of a two-year old Hog, is a native of South America, 

 living in fenny districts near the great rivers in large herds, and uttering a 

 loud discordant cry, like the braying of an ass. It is the largest of all the 

 Rodentia, except the Beaver, grows very fat, and its flesh is considered 

 good eating. Mr. Darwin (" Journal/' p. 49) makes mention of one which 

 he shot at Monte Video, which weighed ninety-eight pounds ; its length 

 from the end of the snout to the stump-like tail was three feet two inches, 

 and its girth three feet. 



LONCHERES. Two species are only named, but we are ignorant of their 

 peculiar habits. 



SPALAX Slepez, which in the Russian language means blind. This 

 animal differs from the genus Mus, with which it was included by Linnaais, 

 by the absence of a tail, by the deficiency of upper lip, by the breadth of 

 the incisive teeth, by the absence of eyes and auricles, and by the fore feet 

 having no thumb-nail. When the skin is removed from the head, a ten- 

 dinous expansion is seen spread over the orbits, beneath which is found a 

 little oblong glandular body, about the middle of which is a black spot 

 representing the globe of the eye, which, when cut into, exhibits the proper 

 coats and humours. 



The species are two the Blind Slepez (S. Typhlus), found in Asia 

 Minor, Syria, Mesopotamia, Persia, and Southern Russia, between the 

 Tanais and Volga. Its hearing is remarkably acute ; its motions are quick, 

 its step irregular and hurried ; and it walks backwards nearly as well as 

 forwards. Like the Mole, it lives in the most fertile plains in burrows at 

 but little depth below the surface of the soil. It feeds entirely upon roots, 

 and is a great plague to the agriculturist. The female produces two or 

 four young at a birth. 



The other species (S. Javanicus) is found in the Isles of Sonda. 



