218 ERINACEID.i:. 



when erect, above the spiues. Feet small and short, with very 

 short toes ; nails small. 



8kull short and wide across the zygomatic arches, which are per- 

 fect, with a well-developed malar bone. The second npper premolar 

 small, externally situated aud single-rooted, but by no means so' 

 minute as in E. micropiis. 



Colour pale, identical with that of E. microims. Muzzle, inclu- 

 ding the eyes, and a band from the eyes to the side of the neck, 

 lower half of fore limbs, lower abdomen, rump, tail, and hind limbs 

 bi'own ; forehead, sides of neck, aud underparts to alidoinen white. 



Spines white or yellowish white, with a broad subterminal baud 

 brown. Tip white, the extreme point occasionally dusky. 



Dimetisions. Head and body in males 6 to 7'75 inches, in females 

 5 to 6, tail 0*5 to 0*8, length of ear from base 1 to 1*4, fore foot 

 0-7, hind foot 1, longest spine 0*75; extreme length of skull 1*6, 

 zygomatic breadth 1. 



Disirihution. North-western India, the Punjab, Siud, Cutch, and 

 Eajputana, as far east as Agra aud Goona. 



Habits. This animal is usually found during the day in holes, 

 such as deserted fox-burrows or under tufts of grass. It appears 

 to be by no means rare in the drier parts of North-western India, 

 but, owing to its nocturnal habits, is but rarely seen. Its food and 

 habits in general are but little known, but doubtless resemble those 

 of other species. 



108. Erinaceus micropus. The South-Indian Hedgehog. 



Erinaceus micropus, Blyth, J. A. S. B. xv, p. 170 (184G) ; xxii, p. 582 ; 

 id. Vat. p. 80; Jerdon, Mam. p. 03; Anderson, J. A. S. B. xlvii, 

 pt. 2, p. 200, pi. V a ; id. Cat. p. 159 ; Dubsan, Moii. Ins. p. 14. 



Eriuaceus nudiventris, Ilorsf. Cat. p. 136. 



Mollu-yelli, Tam. 



Spines commencing on the forehead in front of a line between 

 the inner angles of the ears and divided by a nude median space on 

 the top of the head. Each spine with seventeen to twenty-two 

 longitudinal minutely tuberculated ridges. Ears rounded at the 

 tip, not rising above the spines. Eeet short, with short claws. 

 Hair on lower parts thin. 



The skull is distinguished from that of every other species of 

 the genus by the imperfect zygomatic arch, the malar bone being 

 absent and represented by cartilage. The cranium is longer and 

 narrower than that of E. 2^u-ti(s. The second upper premolar is 

 exceedingly small, scarcely discernible without a lens, external to 

 the genei'al line of the teeth, and one-rooted. 



Colour pale. Muzzle, including the eyes, and a band from the 

 eyes to the side of the neck behind the gap(>, lower (distal) half 

 of fore limbs, hinder abdomen, and rump, \\ith <he hind feet and 

 tail, brown ; a broad band on the forehead, sides of lU'ck, throat, 

 chest, aiul anterior abdomen, with the sides of the body below the 

 spines, white. 



