KEY TO LAND MAMMALS OF NORTHEASTERN NORTH AMERICA II5 



Family Erethizontidae New world porcupines 



Cheek teeth rooted ; no thumb; fur mixed with long stiff quills. (Erethi- 

 zontidae; genus E r e t h i z o n) . 



The new world porcupines are represented by three genera, two of 

 which are tropical. The third occurs throughout the wooded portion of 

 boreal North America. 



Genus Erethizon F. Cuvier 

 1825 Erethizon F. Cuvier, Dents des mammiferes, p. 256. Type H y s t r i x 

 dorsatus Linnaeus 

 Tail short, not prehensile ; toes four in front, five behind. (Erethizon; 

 Gk., to irritate) 



The genus Erethizon is confined to the northern parts of North 

 "America. Two species are known, one of which occurs within our 

 limits. 



Erethizon dorsatus (Linnaeus) Canada porcupine^ '■'■ hedgeJwg'' 



1758 Hystrix dorsatus Linnaeus, Systema naturae, ed. 10. 1 : 57. (Canada) 

 1822 Erethizon dorsatus F. Cuvier, Mem. du museum d'bist. uat. 

 Paris. 9:432. 

 Blackish; quills whitish tipped. Total length, 700 (28); tail vertebrae, 200 (8) 

 hind foot, 90 (3^^. (dorsatus; Lat., large-backed) 



The Canada porcupine occurs throughout the Canadian zone of north- 

 eastern North America wherever are still found sufficiently extensive 

 tracts of unbroken forest. It is chiefly arboreal in habits. The true 

 hedgehogs are very different animals (insectivores) confined to the old 

 world. 



Family Leporidae Hares 



Upper front teeth four, a large pair in front and a small pair immediately behind; 

 front legs short; hind legs elongated for jumping; tail very short or rudimen- 

 tary. (Leporidae; genus Lep us) 



The family Le pori d ae, though nearly universally distributed out- 

 side of Australia and the neighboring islands, contains only two genera, 

 one of which is peculiar to the high mountains of southern Mexico. 



Genus Lepus Linnaeus 

 1758 Lepus Linnaeus, Systema naturae, ed. 10. 1:57. Type Lop us 

 t i ra i d u 8 , Linnaeus. 

 Tail well developed ; ears long and narrow ; hind li'^-s very lonj;. ^L <• pus; 

 Lat., a hare) 



The genus Lepus, the range of which is coincitlcnt with that of the 

 family, probably contains more than one hundred species. Four of these 

 occur in northeastern North America. 



