404 
YEETEBRATA. 
COENDOU, OR BRAZILIAN PORCUPINE. 
last ten inches almost naked, having only a few hairs on it ; has, for that length, a strong pre- 
hensile quality. 
The Brazilian Porcnpine appears very much to resemble the Canada Porcupine in its habits, 
living in woods, sleeping by day, and feeding on fruits, &c., by night. Marcgrave states that its 
voice is like that of a sow. The quills are stated to have the same penetrating and destructive 
quality as those of the Canadian species. It is a sluggish animal, climbing trees very slowly, and 
holding on Avith its prehensile tail, especially in its descent. It grows very fat, and the flesh is 
said to be white and Avell-tasted. Our cut is taken from a living specimen in the Gardens of the 
Zoological Society, Regent's Park. It is found in Brazil, Guiana, and Mexico. 
It is supposed that there are several other species; the C. Boliviensis is mentioned by some 
naturalists. Brandt speaks of another species, which he includes under the generic name of Cer- 
colahes, and the specific name of Platycentrotus. 
THE CAPROMYENS. 
This tribe, which belongs exclusively to America, comprehends several species, which in some 
cases have soft fur, and in others have their covering interspersed with small, weak spines. They 
have generally the appearance of large rats, and live on vegetable food. 
Genus ECHIMYS : JEchimys^ or Spiny-rats. — This genus, which is analogous to the Lon- 
cheres of Illiger, embraces numerous species, of which the most noted is the Cayenne Echimys 
E. OayennensiSy the JE, setosus of Geoffroy, and the Loncheres o.nomala of Kuhl. The head and 
body of this animal are about six inches long, and the tail of equal length ; the ears are large ; tarsi 
long, upper parts of the body chiefly covered Avith spines ; sides likewise with spines, but with a consid- 
erable admixture of hairs ; upper parts of the animal of a dusky -broAvn color ; sides of the body, and 
more especially of the head, suffused with rufous ; under parts white. It inhabits Guiana and Brazil. 
The Wpiite-spined Echimys, JE. alhispinus^ has the tail scaly and with short hairs; head, 
upper parts and sides of the body, Avith spines, those on the upper parts black at the extremity, 
and those on the flanks Avhite; general hue on the upper parts brown, and of the flanks rufous; 
the whole under parts are pure Avhite. It inhabits Bahia and Brazil. 
The Strong-spined Echimys, E. hispidus, is about equal in size to the common black rat; the 
tail very nearly equal to the head and body in length, and Avell covered Avith longish hairs, ex- 
cepting at the base; ears small; broad and strong spines cover the whole upper parts and sides 
of the animal, commencing on the back of the head ; upper parts rusty-brown ; feet, sides, and 
under parts of the body rust-colored. It inhabits Bahia and Brazil. 
I 
