1846.] the Malayan Peninsula and Islands. 257 



are disposed in a wreath of stiff bristles, frequently of a deep rust 

 colour. The epidermis of this species, as well as of Atherura is 

 remarkably thin and liable to be torn. Beneath the skin appears a 

 fatty tissue, upwards of an inch in thickness. The anterior molars are 

 slightly larger than the rest. Viewed from above, in situ, the crown of 

 the anterior lower molar of either side presents the form of two letters 

 S, facing each other (S3)- In a foetus, — of which the head measures 

 two and one-eighth inches, the body four and three-eighth inches, the 

 tail one inch in length, — the whole of the body, and the anterior half of 

 the tail have numerous short hairs, disposed on separate transverse lines 

 of six to eight distant black hairs, becoming longer on the posterior 

 part of the back and sides. The posterior part of the tail has longer 

 and closer hairs. In a female, measuring from the apex of the nose to 

 the root of the tail two feet five inches, the tail four inches ; the intes- 

 tinal canal was of the following dimensions : 



Small Intestines,. . .. .. .. 21 feet 6 inches. 



Large ditto, .. .. .. .. 5 „ 10 



Caecum, . . . . . . . . . . 1 ,, 7 ,, 



The stomach is of a heart-shaped outline, with thin membranes 

 externally smooth, internally with a few longitudinal rugae near the 

 narrow fundus. 



The species is numerous, and, as it is considered a delicacy by the 

 Chinese population, is frequently brought to market. 



Gen.- — Atherura, Cuvier. 



Atherura fasciculata, Cuvier. 



Syn. — Hystrix fasciculata, Lin., apud Cuvier.* 

 Hystrix orientalis, Brisson, apud Gmelin. 

 Hystrix macroura, Linne. 

 Pore- epic de Malacca, Buffon. 

 Hystrix fasciculata, Shaw, apud Raffles. 

 Mus fasciculatus, Desmarest. 

 Hystrix fasciculata, Linne, apud Gray : Illust.f 



* No species of that name occurs in Systema Naturcc, Ed. XIII. Gmelin, 1788, 

 but Hystrix macroura is described "cauda longitudine corporis" (??) " apice fasciculo 

 pilorum" &c. 



f In the figure, the anterior foot has one toe too many, the animal having four toes 

 and a rudimentary flat-nailed thumb. Nor is the back of the hind foot naked, unless 

 indeed become so by accident. 



2 M 



