308 



VERTEBRATA. 



Gray. It is readily distinguished by its black color and large size. It inhabits the northern prov- 

 in.es oi Brazil. 



Azara's A.GOUTI, />. Azarte, Inhabits Paraguay, Bolivia, and the southern parts of Brazil. 

 Waterhouse thinks it identical with Dr. Gray's I>. punctata. 





TIIE PORCUPINE. 



THE PORCUPINES OR HYSTRICIEXS. 



This tribe is divided into the Porcupines proper and several other groups, which we shall notice 

 under their respective generic heads. 



Genus PORCT PINE : My&trix. — This includes certain rodents whose covering consists for the 

 mosl part of a kind of offensive and defensive armor, in the shape of spines or quills, instead of 

 hair-, somewhat after the manner of the hedge-hogs. Their molars are four in number, with a 

 flattened crown, variously modified by layers of enamel, which leave deep intervals; their tongue 

 is rough, with spiny scales; the tail is short, and the feet plantigrade. Many of the species live 

 in burrows, and have much the. habits of rabbits. Their grunting voice, joined to their large and 

 truncated muzzle, has caused them to be compared to the hog, whence their French name Porc- 

 Epic, meaning Spiny-pig. From this we have derived the English name, having a similar _ 

 nification. 



The most celebrated species is the Common Porcupine of Europe, H. cristata, often called 

 the Italian Porcupine, bei "iihr, at present, it is most commonlv found there, and the African 

 Porcupine, because the ancients regarded it as having been first brought from Africa to Europe. 

 It is called Tstrice by the Italians, and Porcopick by the Germans. When full-grown it is about 

 two feet in length, the longest spines exceeding a foot. The general color is grizzled dusky-black, 

 resulting from an intermixture of various shades of white, brown, and black; upper part of the 

 lead and neck furnished with a crest of long lighter-colored hairs, capable of being raised or d< 

 pressed at pleasure; hair on the muzzle and limbs very short, almost black on the limbs; thai 

 the neck and under parts brownish, and of considerable length; on the fore-part and sides of tie 

 neck a whitish band : all the remaining parts of the back and sides, including the rump and up- 

 per parts of the hinder-legs, armed with spines, which are longest on the center of the back. The 

 spines, almost of the thickness of a goose-quill in the middle, are supported at the base by a slcii- < 

 der pedicle, and terminating in very sharp point-, striated longitudinally, and ringed alternately 

 with black and white; the rings an inch or more broad. Their usual position is lying nearly flat 

 upon the body, with the points directed backward; when the animal is excited-, they are raised 

 by means of the subcutaneous muscles almost at right angles with the body, and then present a • 



