682 MB. F. G. PARSONS OX THE [Nov. 20, 



cristata and 5'. javanica, it will be noticed that the general resem- 

 blance is very great. The chief points of difference are : — 



1. That the scales are more deeply serrated in Hystrix. 



2. That the fungiform papiUse are more numerous. 



3. That the foliate papiUas have more ridges and grooves. In 

 the specimen of H. javanica examined there were sixteen parallel 

 grooves, while in that of H. cristata there were twenty. I do not 

 know whether the number of ridges and grooves in the foliate 

 papillae is constant in different individuals of the same species. 



The tongue of Erethizon clorsatum described by Mivart* differs 

 a good deal from that of AtJienira. There is no median groove 

 except at the hinder margin, while the serrated scales so remark- 

 able in Athei-ura and Hystrix are not noticeable. 



Buccal cavity. On each side of the mouth there is a small cheek- 

 pouch lined with hair, and opening between the incisor and 

 premolar teeth. 



The liharynx is a continuation of the oesophageal tube up to the 

 posterior nares. There is a small round opening into the mouth 

 in its anterior wall, just above the laryngeal aperture. There is 

 no uvula. 



The cesopliarjus is narrow above and is remarkable for the 

 thickness of its mucous membrane. 



The stomach is simple and resembles that of Man in its shape ; it 

 differs from Hystrlv cristata and javanica in the absence of the 

 sacculus, and from that of Erethizon in not being bent on itself and 

 in its less elongated form. 



The pylorus has a very thick muscular ring with a calibre only 

 large enough to admit a small quill. Immediately to the outer 

 side of this is the opening of the large bile-duct. 



The pancreas is a solid tongue-Uke gland situated behind the 

 stomach ; as the viscera were somewhat decomposed before they 

 came under observation, I faUed entirely to find the pancreatic 

 duct or its place of opening. 



The spleen resembles that of Hystrix in being a tongue-like 

 gland, without any notches, situated close to the great cul-de-sac 

 of the stomach. Its total length is 31 inches. In Erethizon this 

 organ is oval. 



The duodenum forms a large open loop, its calibre at first is 

 very great, but it narrows rapidly. 



The yreat omentum is about 1 inch long, it reaches a little 

 beyond the umbilicus, but not as far as the bladder. 



The small intestine is 15 ft. 4 in. long, including the duodenum. 



The cceeum is very much shorter than in Erethizon, being only 

 7|- inches instead of 28. The ileo-caecal valve is an oval opening 

 \ inch long, the lips of the valve are slightly patulous. There is 

 no sacculus rotundus and no constriction as in Erethizon at the 

 place where the caecum joins the colon. The mucous membrane 



' P.Z. S. 1882, p. 271. 



