MAMMALIA. GLIRES. Porcupine. a 13 



noticed in the plates of Button's natural hiftory, though not in the text, fo that they may fairly be"ta« 

 ken as varieties. 



434 a. Italian Porcupine. — H. criftala earopaea* 



Has fliorter fpines, and a fmaller creft. Sm. Buff. vii. pi. ccv. 



4.35 /3. Indian Porcupine. — H. crijlala indica. 



Has long fpines, and an ample creft. Sm. Buff. vii. pi. ccvi. 



The Porcupine is fometimes above two feet long ; and the tail, which is of a conical form, and 

 covered with quills, is four inches in length ; the head is long and compreffed laterally) having a 

 fliort, blunt, nofe; the upper lip is deeply divided as far as the noftrils; the eyes are fmall and black; 

 the ears lhort, broad, Oval, and fomewhat like thofe of mankind ; the legs are fhort and thick ; thS 

 body is covered with long andjlrong fpines of quills, which are very fmooth, fharp pointed, and va- 

 riegated with black and white rings ; thefe, and the long briltles on the back of the head, the -ani- 

 mal is able to erect and recline at pleafure, by means of a panlculus carnofus, or fubcutaneous mufcu- 

 lar expanfion ; between the fpines are a few cinereous or afh coloured hairs ; and the head, belly, 

 and legs, are covered with ftrong briftles of a dulky colour, intermixed with foft hairs. The gall 

 bladder of this animal frequently contains a fpecies of bezoar, formerly much valued. The ilelh of 

 "the Porcupine is fold in t|ie markets of Italy, and is tolerably good. 



2. Brafilian Porcupine. — 2. Hyftrix prehenftlis. 2. 



The tail is long, naked underneath at the end, and prehenfile ; the hind feet have only- 

 four toes ; it has no hair among the fpines. Schreber, iv. 603. t. clxviii. 



Hyftrix americanus, or American Porcupine, named Cuandu, by the Brafilians, and Ourico ca- 

 chieno, by the Portuguefe. Marcgr. Braf. 233. Jonfr. quad. 60. Raj. quad. 2c8. — Brafilian Porcu-" 

 pine. Penn. hift. of quad. n. 255. pi. xli. fig. 1. 



Of this fpecies two varieties are mentioned in authors. 



436 a.. Larger Brafiiian Porcupine — Hyftrix preh . major. 

 Having a longer tail, and fliorter fpines. Barrere Fr. equin. 153. 



larger Cuandu. Pifo, Ind. 324. f. pi 32c. — Larger American Porcupine. Briff. quad; iri: 



437 0. Smaller Brafi'ian Porcupine. — Hyftrix preh. minor. 



Of a fmaller fize, and having a white head. Barrere, Fr. equin. 153. 



Cuandu. Pifo, Ind. 99. — American Porcupine, having a long flender tail, the under half of 

 whjchj at the extremity, is deftitute of fpines. Briff. quad. 129. 



inhabits 



