CLASS I. MAMMALIA: ORDER 7. RODENTIA. 



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THE CAYENNE ECHIMYS. 



The Short-tailed Echimys, E. brachyurus: the E. spinosus of Desmarest, and the Loncheres rufa 

 of Lichtenstein, has the spines narrow and hidden by the fur; ears moderate ; tarsus long; general 

 color rich brown ; under parts dirty white ; feet dark brown. Its length is ten inches, the tail 

 three inches. It burrows in the earth, and has spines mixed and matted with the hair, which is 

 of two kinds, one soft and the other rough. The spines are easily detached. It inhabits Para- 

 guay and Bolivia. 



The Spineless Echimys, E. inermis, has the feet moderately long; tail rather shorter than 

 the head and body taken together, and clothed with long hairs, which entirely hide the scales; 

 fur soft, and without any mixture of soft hairs; general hue brown-yellow; under parts yellowish- 

 white. It inhabits Bahia and Brazil. 



The Cave Echimys, E. anlricola, the JVelomys antricola of Lund, has the body stout, the 

 muzzle thick, ears short, tail long, and well clothed with hairs; upper parts of the animal gray- 

 brown, with an admixture of rusty yellow; under parts white ; the hairs of the fur harsh and de- 

 pressed. It inhabits the interior of Brazil. 



Other species, held to be doubtful by some naturalists, are the E. myosuros, the Loncheres 

 myosuros of Lichtenstein, the Mus leptosomus and Mus cinnamomeus of the same author, and 

 the Loncheres longicaudata of Rengger. 



Genus CERCOMYS : Cercomys. — Of this there is a single species, the Brazilian Cercomys, 

 ft cunicularius. It is of a deep brown color above, paler on the flanks and cheeks, and whitish 

 beneath; it is without spines. The length of the body is three to. four inches, and the tail nearlv 

 the same. The dentition is peculiar. It is found in Brazil. 



Genus NELOMYS : Nclomys ; the Loncheres of Jourdan. — The animals of this species have 

 their covering more or less spiny, and the tail often furred. They resemble the Echimys, and are 

 treated only as a subgenus by Gervais. There are several species. . ♦ 



The Crested Xelomys, N~. cristatus, is the Golden-tailed Rat of Buffon. In its size and the 



form of its tail it bears no inconsiderable resemblance to the common rat, the body being eight 



-inches long and the tail a trifle longer. Its color is maroon, with a purple ground, very deep on 



