HYSTRIX 543 



extending back to glenoid level, their median length about three 

 times that of f rentals, the posterior margin of the two together 

 forming a broad, even curve ; dental formula : i t 1 , pm tJ, m j" 

 = 20.; tail short ; neck with conspicuous crest of long coarse 

 bristles. 



Remarks. — The genus Hystrix as here restricted contains the 

 African and Italian species only. Several forms have been 

 described, the status of which is imperfectly understood. One 

 occurs in Europe. 



HYSTRIX CRISTATA Linnseus. 



1758. [Hystrix] cristata Linnseus, Syst. Nat., i, 10th ed., p. 56 (near Rome, 



Italy). 

 1792. H[ystrix] cristata europma Kerr, Anim. Kingd., p. 213 (Renaming of 



cristata). 

 1839. ? [Hystrix cristata'] var. alba De Selys-Longchamps, Etudes de Micro- 



mamm., p. 152 (nomen nudum). 

 1910. Hystrix cristata Trouessart, Faune Mamm. d'Europe, p. 212. 



Type locality. — Near Rome, Italy.* 



Geographical distribution. — Northern Africa ; central and 

 southern Italy ; Sicily. (Wrongly attributed to the Iberian 

 Peninsula.) f 



Diagnosis. — General characters as in the genus Hystrix ; 

 size medium, the condylobasal length of skull about 130 mm., 

 depth of skull at front of tooth-row about 50 mm. 



External characters. — Form heavy, the body appearing much 

 larger posteriorly than anteriorly on account of the mass of 

 specially elongated quills on posterior half of back ; head short, 

 the eye rather large, the ear low and inconspicuous ; legs short ; 

 feet broad ; tail shorter than hind foot, though bearing a dense 

 mass of quills which make it appear much longer. Head rather 

 short and deep; ear low, rounded, overlaid by the bristle-like 

 hairs springing from region above and behind eye, a small but 

 evident lobe in front of meatus ; muzzle pad and median portion 

 of upper lip finely pubescent with fine and short but rather stiff 

 hairs; nostrils situated in a deep groove crossing muzzle hori- 

 zontally ; upper lip with narrow median cleft. Front foot short 

 and broad, with four short, well developed digits and a rudi- 

 mentary thumb, the two median digits longest and bearing the 

 largest claws, the second and fifth successively shorter, all four 

 with strong slightly curved claws, the thumb a mere tubercle 

 covered on its upper surface by the rudimentary nail; palm 



* The statement "Habitat in Asia" is merely equivalent to saying 

 that the animal is foreign. The reference to the Systema[4th ed.], p. 9, 

 No. 1, leads directly to Ray (Syn. Meth. Anim. Quadr., p. 209), whose 

 account is based on a specimen from the mountainous districts near 

 Rome (see Thomas, Proo. Zool. Soc. London, 1911, p. 144). 



t The peculiar distribution suggests the possibility that the animal's 

 presence in Italy is due to artificial introduction. 



