THE BRASILUN PORCUPINE. 



Generic Characters. 

 Two cutting teeth in each jaw. 

 The body covered with hard and fharp quills. 

 The upper lip divided. 



Synonims. 

 Hystrix Prensilis, Linn, Syji, 76. 

 Hystrix Americanus, Rati Syn. Quad. 208. 

 Cuandu, Marcgrave Brafil, 233. Pifo Brafil, 99, 325. 

 Hoitzlacuatzin, Hernandez Mex. 322. 

 Chat Epineux, des Marchais, iii. 303. 



THIS animal is not fo large as the Crefted Porcupine. Its quills are 

 likewife much fhorter, being not more than three inches long; they are 

 white, barred with black near their points, and are exceedingly fharp ; its nofe 

 is fhort and blunt, adorned with white whifkers, and furnifhed underneath 

 with a fmall bed of fpines. It has four toes armed with very long claws 

 on each foot, and in the place of the thumb there is a great protuberance. 

 The tail is eighteen inches in length ; that half of it which is next to the 

 body is covered with fharp fpines, the other half is naked, excepting only a 

 few hairs ; the end is firongly prehenfile. It is a native of Mexico and Brafil, 

 where it lives in the woods, and feeds indifferently on fruits and poultry. 

 It fleeps in the day-time, and goes out during the night in fearch of its food. 

 Its voice refembles the grunting of a Hog, and it makes a noife with its 

 noflrils, as if it were out of breath. It climbs trees with great agility, and 

 prevents itfelf from falling, as it defcends, by twirling its tail round the 

 branches. Its flefh is fat and well flavoured. This fpecies is reprefented in 

 the Plate flanding on the bough of a tree. 



