LEPOBID.E. 447 



The only remaining species of the genus, A. africana, occurs in 

 Western and Central Africa. Another Oriental genus is Triclujs, 

 of which one species, T. guentheri, inhabits Borneo. The American 

 porcupines belong to a distinct subfamily, Si/netherince. 



Suborder DUPLICIDENTATA. 



This suborder, distinguished by having two pairs of upper inci- 

 sors in adults, the smaller additional pair being behind the usual 

 rodent teeth, not at the side of them, comprises two families — the 

 hares and the Lagomyidcp, sometimes known as Pikas, calling or 

 piping hares, or mouse-hares. In all there are, at birth, three pairs 

 of upper incisors, but the outer tooth on each side is soon lost. 

 Enamel extends all round the incisors. The molars are rootless, 

 with transverse enamel-folds. The anterior palatine or incisive 

 foramina are very large, usually confluent, and extending back to 

 the premolars ; the bony palate is veiy short ; and the opening of 

 the posterior nares is bet^'een the true molars. There is no true 

 alisphenoid canal. The fibula is anchylosed to the tibia and articu- 

 lates with the oa calcis. The testes are permanently external to the 

 abdominal cavity. All the species are exclusively vegetable feeders 

 and have very long intestines and a large caecum. All are terres- 

 trial, none arboreal or aquatic. 



Both families occur in India and are thus distinguished : — 



Ears long ; a tail present Leporidae. 



Ears short, rounded ; no tail Lagomyidae. 



Family LEPORID^. 



Hares and rabbits compose this family. The ears are long, 

 usually about the same length as the skull or longer, and there is 

 a short tail. The limbs are long, the hind limbs in general con- 

 spicuously longer than the fore. The eyes are large and there are 

 no eyelids. The skull is compressed ; the frontals are broad 

 between the orbits and furnished with peculiarly shaped post- 

 orbital processes, narrow where joined to the frontals, then 

 expanded and forming the upper rim of the orbit. The clavicles 

 are imperfect. 



