( 4o6 ) 
The Di- It Four Inches, and Six Tenths of an fnch long, 
menfions. ^^^^^^ largeft, as it was an Inch and Six Tenths 
broad, fo it was about Three Inches and a half in Cir- 
cumference ; at the fmaller end, not above Four Tenths 
of an Inch broad. 
TheCover- It had neither Shell, Cruft, Scales, or Bone for its 
i«S- Covering, but was foft ; yet not flabby or flefhy, as 
the fjLCLXdmc^ or Mollia, delcribed by the Naturalifts, 
but rather Membranous. 
i:he Back, The Back or upper Side was ftiaped roundifli, efpe- 
cialiy towards the Sides; in the middle 'twas fbmething 
flatten'd, the Belly was perfectly plain; along the 
middle of the Back ran a large Stripe from one ex- 
tream to 'tother, about Eight Tenths of an Inch broad, 
towards the upper end, but fiill narrower, as it came 
towards the Tail. This Stripe was all covered with a 
fliort (oft (brt of Down ; not unlike in Texture , Co- 
lour and Subftance, to that which grows on the back 
of the Leaf of tuffilago^ or Colts foot. 
tik Sides. Joining to the edge of this Stripe, ran from one 
end to 'tother, a Lift about Two Tenths of an Inch 
broad, that covered both fides of the Animal, and 
part of his Back. This Lift or Verge was thickly 
lhag'd, with a fine foft Hair that grew very thick, and 
about a quarter of an Inch long , of a moft delicate 
Changeable Red and Green Colour ; and of fo fpark- 
ling a vivid Luftre, chat nothing of this kind could 
Ihew more Beautiful. 
ThePrickr Among this foft Hair were thickly interfperfed, with- 
out Order, an abundance (fome Hundreds I believe} 
of black (harp hard Prickles, about the fame length of 
the Hair, and the thicknefs of a Hogs Briftle, but 
much harder, and very fliarp at the Points. 
The 
