HYSTRIX CRISTATA. 221 



of the fingers do the fingers. The same in the guinea-pig. The vesi- 

 culse seminales are more like the rat's in shape than the guinea-pig's, 

 but open much in the same manner : they do not communicate with 

 the vasa deferentia. 



The epididymis and vasa deferentia pass in the guinea-pig, and open 

 as in that animal. What answers to the prostate gland are two glands 

 on the sides of the bladder, having a great many ducts as in the guinea- 

 pig, which enter near the openings of the vasa deferentia 1 . 



The Female Parts. — The clitoris is in a distinct prepuce from the 

 vagina, as in the rat. The nipples are eight, four on each side ; two 

 pectoral, two inguinal, and four abdominal. The os tineas is one ; but 

 the common uterus is short, not above -|ths of an inch. The horns of 

 the uterus are similar to those in the rat 2 . 



The Porcupine [Hystrix cristata, Linn. 3 ]. 



If the two different animals which go by this name are the same 

 species, then we may suppose a reason for the difference in the hair. 

 The last 4 is a native of Hudson's Bay, which is a cold climate, there- 

 fore it requires hair of the thickest and softest kind ; whereas the 

 quilled one [Hystriaa] is a native of warmer climates, such as Spain, &c. 

 It walks on the sole of the foot and palms of the hands, like the bear ; 

 the claws are much of the same kind. The eyes are small, like those 

 of a beaver, and the eyelids are very narrow. The odour about the 

 anus is similar to that of a ferret. 



The oesophagus is 2 inches long below the diaphragm : it is attached 

 to the crura of the diaphragm by a doubling of the peritoneum, and by 

 what might be called the mesocesophagus : this is similar to the rat and 

 guinea-pig : where it enters the stomach it is very small. 



The stomach is very strong, and what is called the great end, or 

 cardia, is rather the smallest, for it ends in a point. The pylorus is 

 very thick, and is situated much as in the human subject. The duo- 

 denum is attached to the ascending part of the colon, as it passes down 

 the right side, for nearly a foot in length, by a short mesentery which 

 becomes longer and longer downwards : it is then attached to the root 

 of the mesentery on the same side, and gets behind it to the left ; it 

 afterwards gets to the edge of the mesentery, becoming loose. The 



1 [Hunt. Preps. Nos. 2492, 2493, 2494.] 2 [lb. No. 2751.] 



3 [The skull and other parts of the skeleton of the male porcupine here described 

 are Nos. 2076—2086, Hunt. Osteol. Series.] 



4 [Erethizon dorsatum, F. Cut., of which the female parts are subsequently 

 described.] 



