598 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVII. 



little larger. They are both females, with the mammary formula 

 3—2=10. 



The third species obtained by Mr. Wells is referable provisionally 

 to the Leggada hooduga group, which will need further material 

 before its various local forms can be properly sorted out. 



(B) THE BRUSH-TAILED PORCUPINE OF ASSAM. 



Although recorded by Sclater and Blanford as occurring in Assam, 

 no Brush-tailed Porcupines from that region have hitherto come 

 to the National Museum, all our specimens being from Tenasserim 

 and the Malay Peninsula, which latter is considered the type locality 

 of the common species, Atherurus macrourus. 



Now in connection with his survey work Mr. Wells has sent home 

 an excellent example from Cherrapunji, the very locality mentioned 

 by Sclater, and I have had much interest in comparing this with 

 Malay specimens. Although nearh'- allied to Atherurus macrourus 

 the northern form seems to represent a distinct species, which may 

 be called 



Atherueus assamensis, sp. n. 



Size rather less than in ^. macrourus. Colour above rather darker 

 owing to there being fewer white spine-tips visible, while below the 

 difference is more definite, the whole undersurface being pale drab 

 brown instead of more or less whitish. Spines of low surface 

 liberally mixed with ordinary hairs, and less robust than in macro- 

 urus. Tail apparently rather longer than in macrourus, the short- 

 haired part about 70mm. in length, the tuft not so long, and the rice- 

 shapei swellings on the bristles smaller ; in colour the end part, within 

 the tuft, is not so markedly whiter than the rest as it is in macrou- 

 rus. Weight 4^ lbs. 



Skull about as long, but narrower and less bulky than in macrourus. 

 It is especially narrow across the frontal region, the distance between 

 the outer corners of the anteorbital foramina being only 33mm., as 

 compared with 37 — 39mm. in macrourus. Nasals projecting farther 

 back beyond the premaxillary processes. Indistinct postorbitai 

 angles present. Zygomata narrowing more evenly backwards, instead 

 of the high anterior part abruptly altering to the comparatively 

 low posteiior portion. 



Molars small, about as in A. tionis, therefore decidedly smaller 

 than in A. macrourus. 



Dimensions of the type, measured in flesh : — 



Head and body 42 0mm. ; tail 220 ; hindfoot 65 ; ear 34. 



Skull, greatest length 96 ; condylo-incisive length 87 ; zygomatic 

 breadth 44 ; nasals 28"5 — 14"5 ; breadth across postorbitai angles 

 27 "5 ; least breadth across braincase 29 ; height of crown from 

 alveolus of m' 25 ; palatilar length 39 ; upper cheek tooth series 

 16-4; molars only -ll'S. 



