HYSTEIX. 333 



the most numerous measure 0-65" in the length of the dilated hollow part, having 

 a maximum breadth of 21", whilst there are a few short cups 0*38" in length and 

 with a breadth of 0-17'', and besides these a very few more elongated and narrow 

 cylinders occur. The hind foot measures 3 inches in length to the end of the claws. 



The distinguishing features of the skull of this species, as in Systrix {A.) 

 javanica, are the nasals stopping short posteriorly, considerably anterior to the 

 orbit, and even before the anterior angle of the external portion of the lachrymal ; 

 the nearly equal breadth maintained by the nasals throughout their length ; also the 

 greater breadth of the naso-frontal portion of the premaxillary, the posterior margin 

 of which is considerably anterior to the first molar, whereas in S. bengalensis, 

 as in II. longicauda, it is in a line with the posterior border of the first molar, the 

 point in a line with which are the posterior borders of the nasals of H. yunnanensis. 

 The posterior margins of the nasals of H. longicauda are in a line with the middle 

 of the tliird molar, whilst in S. bengalensis they occupy nearly the same rela- 

 tion to the molar teeth. In II. longicauda they are much behind the posterior 

 superior angle of the lachrymal, whereas in H. bengalensis they are in a line with it. 

 The nasals of L. longicauda and II. bengalensis are considerably longer than 

 the nasals of this species, and they are largest in S. bengalensis. In both they 

 are considerably broader, more especially posteriorly, and in S. longicauda they are 

 broader than in II . bengalensis. The skull is also distinguished from the skulls of 

 both these porcupines by the much greater length of the- frontals. Their greatest 

 length on the upper surface nearly equals the length of the nasals, whereas in 

 H. longicauda it falls short of one-half of the length of these bones, while in 

 R. bengalensis it equals one-half. In S. yunnanensis the length of the parietals in 

 the mesial line equals about one-haK of the length of the frontals before them, 

 whilst in S. longicauda that measurement is nearly as long as the frontals, whereas 

 in H. bengalensis the parietals are shorter than in S. longicauda, indeed so short 

 that their mesial length does not equal one-half of the length of the frontals. 



The teeth do not appear to yield any characters that would enable us to distin- 

 guish this porcupine from the species with which I have compared it. The upper 

 incisors show a tendency to longitudinal grooving and to the formation of nearly three 

 distinct furrows, but this is also occasionally developed in II. leucura. 



Inferior border of foramen magnum to tip of premaxillge 4-25 



Greatest breadth across zj^gomatic arch 2-50 



Length of nasals j.g^ 



Greatest breadth of conjoint nasals i-n 



Breadth of frontal process of premaxilla 0'35 



^ Distance of anterior margin of orbit anterior to posterior ends of nasals . . . .0-31 



Tip of premaxillse to anterior border of first molar 1-71 



Length of molar line j^.jq 



Posterior border of palate to inferior margin of foramen magnum 1-97 



This species is not at aU uncommon in the elevated region (2,000 to 4,500 

 feet) to the east of the Kakhyen hills. 



In the Indian Museum, Calcutta, there is a specimen sent by Hodgson from 

 Nepal of a porcupine which he named S. aloplwus.^ It is entirely destitute of a 



' Journ. As. Soc. Beng. vol. xvi. 1847, p. 771, Plate 32. 



