HTSTEIX LONGICACDA. 221 



he procured specimens of the orange porcupine from various parts of the 

 Ghats of Cochin and Travancore, and that the flesh of this kind is more 

 highly esteemed for food than the common variety. The native sportsmen 

 declare that the aroma from these burrows is quite sufficient to distinguish 

 the two species. 



206. Hystrix longicauda. 



Marsden. — Blyth, Cat. p. 129. — fl. alophus, Hodgson.— 77. Hodg- 

 sonii, Gray. — Acanthion javanicum, F. Cuvibr. — Anchotia dumsi, in 

 Nepal ; «. «., the crestless porcupine. — Sathung, Lepch. — 0' — e' of the 

 Limbus. 



The Crestless Porcupine. 



Bescr. — No crest; head, neck, fore-half of the body, entire belly and 

 limbs covered with black spinous bristles, 2 to 3 inches long, shortest on the 

 head and limbs ; the large quills of the back and croup vary from 7 to 12 

 inches long, mostly white with one central black ring ; the tail conico- 

 depressed, with some quills about 5 inches long, and the rattle consisting of 

 35 to 40 hollow cylinders, some closed, others open. A narrow and 

 vaguely marked white color. 



Length of one, head and body 24 inches ; tail 4, or with the quills 5^. 



This porcupine is found in the central region of Nepal and Sikim, and 

 extends through Burmah into the Malayan peninsula and islands. Sclater 

 in a Synopsis of the species of Hystrix, separates H. Hodgsoni from 77. 

 javanimm. I have followed Blyth in uniting these two. 



Hodgson states that they are " very numerous and very mischievous, 

 depredating greatly among the potatoes and other tuberous or edible rooted 

 crops. They are most numerous in the central region, but are common to 

 all three regions. They breed in spring, and usually produce two young, 

 about the time the crops being to ripen. They are monogamous, the pair 

 dwelling together in burrows of their own formation. Their flesh is 

 delicious, like pork, but much more delicate-flavored, and they are easily 

 tamed so as to breed in confinement. All tribes and classes, even high- 

 caste Hindoos eat them, and it is deemed lucky to keep one or two alive 

 in stables, where they are encouraged to br6ed." 



I saw several skins of this species at Darjeeling that had been killed in 

 some tea plantations between 4,000 and 5,000 feet of elevation. The name 



