308 DR. J. E. GRAY ON THE SPECIES OF PORCUPINES. [May 22, 



The species of Hystrix, as defined in my monograph (P. Z. S. 

 1847, p. 99), are as follows : — 



1. Hystrix cristata, Linn.; Gray, P. Z. S. 1847, p. 99^ Blainv. 

 Osteogr. t. 2. 



Hystrix cristata de Syrie, Blainv. Osteogr. t. 2. 



1 Hystrix hirsutirostris, Brandt. 



Hab. Italy; Xanthus (G. Scharff.) ; South Africa (Burchell). 



2. Hystrix leucurus, Sykes, P. Z. S. 1831, p. 103; Gray, 

 P. Z. S. 1847, p. 100. 



Hystrix cristata de Bengal, Blainv. Osteogr. t. 2 (skull). 

 Hab. India, Dukhun (Dickinson ; Sykes). 



3. Hystrix malabarica, Day; Sclater, P. Z. S. 1865, p. 353, 

 pi. XVI. 



Hab. India, Malabar. 



I may here observe that the Red- quilled Porcupines (H. mala- 

 barica, Day & Sclater), nowiu the Zoological Gardens, do not show 

 any appearance of red quills. The red quills fell out when the ani- 

 mals moulted, and have been replaced by black-and-white quills, like 

 those of the common Indian species. 



The species is very like H. leucurus of Colonel Sykes, which also 

 has some of the spines banded with red brown ; and, like the Dukhun 

 species, it has long white tips to the longer slender dorsal spines. 



The typical specimen in the British Museum indeed chiefly differs 

 from the Dukhun specimens in not having a white half collar on the 

 front of the chest. 



The genus Acanthion, as defined from the skulls in the monograph 

 in the ' Proc. Zool. Soc' 18-17, p. 161, must be divided into three 

 groups or genera, according to the general appearance of the animal. 



1. Otocephalus. 



Acanthion, § * ft. Gray, P. Z. S. 1847, p. 102. 



Crown and nape with a large compressed crest formed of elongated 

 slender cylindrical spines. The skull very ventricose. The nasal 

 very large, dilated behind, and reaching to a line with the middle 

 of the orbit. 



Otocephalus cuvieri. 



Pore-epic d'ltalie, F. Cuvier, Mem. Mus. ix. t. 20*. f. 1 (skull). 



Hystrix cristata, Brandt, Mem. Petersb. 1835, t. 8. f. 1, 2. 



Acanthion cuvieri, Gray, P. Z. S. 1847, pp. 102, 128. 



Hystrix africce australis, Peters, Mossamb. Mamm. t. 32. f. 6, 7, 

 Sclater, P. Z. S. 1865. 



H. cristata a" Alger ie, Caffrerie, Senegal, Europe, Blainv. Ostc-ogr. 

 t. 2. 



H. cuvieri, Waterhouse, N. H. Mamm. ii. p. 448, t. 20. f. 1, 2 

 (skull); Gerrard, Cat. Bones B. M. p. 190. 



Hab. North Africa : Algiers; Gambia (Fraser) ; Tunis (Fraser). 



