404: 



VERTEBRATA. 



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COENDOU, OK BRAZILIAN PORCUPINE. 



last ten inches almost naked, having only a few hairs on it ; has, for that length, a strong pre- 

 hensile quality. 



The Brazilian Porcupine appears very much to resemble the Canada Porcupine in its habits, 

 living in woods, sleeping by day, and feeding on fruits, <fcc, by night. Marcgrave states that its 

 voice is like that of a sow. The quills are stated to have the same penetrating and destructive 

 quality as those of the Canadian species. It is a sluggish animal, climbing trees very slowly, and 

 holding on with its prehensile tail, especially in its descent. It grows very fat, and the flesh is 

 said to be white and well-tasted. Our cut is taken from a living specimen in the Gardens of the 

 Zoological Society, Regent's Park. It is found in Brazil, Guiana, and Mexico. 



It is supposed that there are several other species; the C. Boliviensis is mentioned by some 

 naturalists. Brandt speaks of another species, which he includes under the generic name of C< r- 

 colabes, and the specific name of Platycentrotus. 



THE CAPROMYENS. 



This tribe, which belongs exclusively to America, comprehends several species, which in some 

 cases have soft fur, and in others have their covering interspersed with small, weak spines. They 

 have generally the appearance of large rats, and live on vegetable food. 



Gouts ECHIMYS: Echimys, or Spiny-rats. — This genus, which is analogous to the Lon- 

 cheres of Illiger, embraces numerous species, of which the most noted is the Cayenne Echimys 

 E. (''ii/ciuit -i, sis, the E. setosus of Geoff roy, and the Loncheres anomala of Kuhl. The head and 

 body of this animal arc about six inches long, and the tail of equal length; the ears are large; t 

 Long, upper parts of the body chiefly covered with spines; sides likewise with spines, but with a cor 

 erable admixture of hairs; upper parts of the animal of a dusky-brown color; sides of the body, ana 

 more especially of tin- head, suffused with rufous; under parts white. It inhabits Guiana and Brazil. 



The \\ in re-S PINED Echimys, E. albisp'nuis, has the tail scaly and with short hairs; head, 

 upper part- and sides of the body, with spines, those on the upper parts black at the extremity, 

 and those on the flanks white; general hue on the upper parts brown, and of the flanks rufous; 

 the whole under parts are pure white. It inhabits Bahia and Brazil. 



The Strong-spiked Kciiimys, E. his/iidus, is about equal in size to the common black rat; tin- 

 tail very nearly equal to the head and body in length, and well covered with longish hairs, vx 

 cepting at the base; ears small ; broad and strong spines cover the whole upper parts and eddes 

 of the animal, commencing on the back of the head; upper parts rusty-brown; feet, sides, and 

 under parts of the body rust-colored. It inhabits Bahia and Brazil. 



