HTSTEICID.E. 



441 



Family HYSTRICID^. 



The porcupines and their near allies constitute this family and 

 are easily recognized by their fur being more or less completely 

 modified into spines. Opines, it is true, occur is some other rodents, 

 but not to the same extent. 



The form is robust (the largest Indian rodents belong to this 

 family) and the limbs subequal. The clavicles are imperfect in all 

 Indian forms ; the fibula distinct. The zygomatic arch is stout, 

 the malar bone not supported below by a continuation of the 

 maxillary zygomatic process. Infraorbital opening large. The 

 angular portion of the mandible arises from the outer side of the 

 bony socket of the lower incisor. Facial part of the skull short 

 and broad. Molars with external and internal enamel plaits, 

 semirooted in all Indian genera. 



Two genera occur within Indian limits. 



A. Tail short, spinose, with hollow quills at the end Hystrix. 



B. Tail long, scaly, with a tuft of bristles at the end Atherura. 



Genus HYSTRIX, L. (1766). 

 Syn. Acanthion, Cuv. ; Acanthochterus, Gray. 



Body covered with rigid spines, some longer flexible spines being 



added on the back, the stoutest spines attached to the loins and 



rump. Tail short, spinose, and having at the 



end a bundle of slender-stalked open quills. 



pm. Muzzle blunt. Mammae 6. 



In the skull the nasal bones are well de\elop- 

 ed, much more so, however, in some species than 

 in others. There are large air-sinuses in the 

 frontals. Nasal cavity usually very large. 



Dentition : i. ^, pm. j^^, m. j^ij* The upper 

 grinding-teeth with one internal and three or 

 four external folds ; the folds become, with wear, 

 loops of enamel inside the margin of the 

 tooth. Lower teeth similar but with the folds 

 reversed. 



Vertebrse : C. 7, D. 15, L. 4, S. 4, C. 10-12. 

 Toes 5 — 5, the pollex small. 



Synojpsis of Indian, Ceylonese, and Burmese Species. 



A. A crest of bristles 6 to 12 inches long or more 



on neck and shoulders H. leucwa, p. 442. 



B. Crest present but less than 6 inches long .... H. bengalensis, p. 444. 



C. Crest wanting or quite rudimentary H. hodgsoni, p. 444. 



^ 



J 



Fig. 144. — Crovvus 

 of right upper 

 cheek - teeth of 

 H. leuciira.X 1. 



