i66 



RODEXTS 



the greater part of their length form star-like spots among the dark fur. These 

 bristles and the spines on the back are black at the tips. 



This species inhabits the forests on the eastern coasts of Mexico. Nothing 

 special is recorded of its habits ; but it may lie mentioned that from observations 

 made on captive individuals of other species, it is probable that none of the tree- 

 porcupines ever drink. It is stated that in those long-haired species in which the 

 fur is of a greyish tint, the general appearance of the animal when reposing on the 

 arm of a tree closely simulates a gnarled and lichen-clad knot. 



MEXICAN TREE-PORCUPINE (,l nat. size). 



Thtn-Spined A peculiar porcupine (Chcetomys mbspiTtosus), from Central and 



Porcupine. Northern Brazil, differs from all the members of the preceding genus 



by the shape of its skull and the more complicated structure of its molar teeth, as 



well as by the slenderness of its spines, which may be described as half-way 



between those of the other groups and mere bristles. It is a large species, of a dull 



brown colour, with the under-parts inclining to rufous, and the feet and tail 



brownish black. The tail, although long, is not prehensile : and the habits of the 



animal are less completely arboreal than those of the preceding group. Remains 



of a species of Ereth izorn occur in the superficial deposits of Pennsylvania, and those 



of Synetheres in the caverns of Brazil. 



„ . With the true porcupines, as typically represented by the 



True Porcupines. out-' • ,_" . ' . . 



common bouth European species (Hystrut cristata), we come to 



the second subfamily, all the members of which are confined to the Old World, 

 and differ from their Transatlantic cousins by the following characteristics. 

 Externally the soles of the feet are perfectly smooth, the fore -feet have a small 

 thumb, and the female is provided with six teats. In the skeleton, the collar- 

 bones are incomplete : and the molar teeth have imperfect roots. In habits all 



