220 



fore-feet with the middle claw largest, the two next less, the remain- 

 ing two much less ; those of the hind-feet vertical, truncated. 



M. TETRADACTYLA, Linn. {Africona, Desm.) 



Scales large, three on each side in every transverse row, striated to 

 the tip, which is square, with a point projecting from the middle, 

 the lower ones at the sides and the lateral ones beneath the tail cari- 

 nate ; tail double the length of the body, a little narrowed at the 

 base, soon becoming broad ; limbs only scaled at the base, then 

 covered with black hairs like the under parts ; fore-feet with the 

 middle claw very long and compressed, the index and annularis much 

 less and nearly equal, the minimus less still, the inner toe very small ; 

 hind-feet with lengthened claws, nearly equal. 



M. MULTiscuTATA, Gray, Proc. Z. S. Feb. 1843. 



Five scales on each side of the median one in every transverse row; 

 scales striated to the tip, which is square, with a median point; 

 those on the sides of the trunk and limbs, and the lateral ones be- 

 neath the tail, carinate ; tail nearly double the length of the body, of 

 moderate width ; under parts with short whitish brown hairs ; fore- 

 limbs scaled to the carpus ; toes all well-developed, except the thumb, 

 which is small, the medius longest ; hind-feet scaled nearly to the 

 base of the claws, which are all lengthened and well-developed, ex- 

 cept the thumb, which is small ; the annularis nearly as long as the 

 medius. 



M. aurita, Hodgson. 



Fam. 5. Orycteropodid^. 



The nasal bones long and much spread out behind, narrowed and 

 not projecting anteriorly ; the intermaxillaries well-developed, pro- 

 minent below, not enclosing foramina ; the maxillary bones length- 

 ened and deep, provided vnth compound teeth ; the palate termina- 

 ting soon with a strong transverse ridge, having a pair of large poste- 

 rior palatine foramina ; the lacrymal bone large, extending much upon 

 the face ; the malar bone large, extending much upon the face, but 

 its zygomatic process small and slender ; the frontal bone large and 

 swollen, with a small and contracted post-orbital process ; the parie- 

 tals extended downwards at their anterior inferior angles to articulate 

 with the ahsphenoids ; the zygoma slender, twisted as in the Arma- 

 dilloes ; a strong post-articular and a post-auditory process, and just 

 within the latter a short truncate styloid process, not enclosed by any 

 vaginal process, as the tympanic bone is much reduced and separate ; 

 the occipital condyles hemicylindrical, but with a portion of articular 

 surface continued from them upon the lower edge of the foramen 

 magnum ; the paroccipital processes in a line with them, but distinctly 

 separated. 



As this family consists, so far as is yet satisfactorily known, of a 

 single species, its characters might be multiplied to almost any extent ; 

 should another form be discovered, they will of course need revision. 



