48 
REPORT ON ZOOLOGY, MDCCCXLII : 
(K. Danske Vidensk. Selsk. Naturv. AfhandL 1841, p. 243). 1. Phyl- 
LOMYS ; each upper molar consisting of four simple parallel little cross 
plates. 2. Echimys; upper molars composed of two double cross 
plates, the limbs of which are united to the inner margin in the form 
of two separate v. v. 3. Loncheres ; two little cross plates, the 
anterior single, the posterior like double v. v. 4. Nelomys ; upper 
molars originally consisting of two cross plates, the anterior simple, the 
posterior in the form of a single v. I have here to remark, that Phyllomys 
is a true Nelomys,- or rather Loncheres, according to my definition ; to 
which also, perhaps, will belong the genus Lonchophorus, described by 
Lund afterwards (p. 282). Lund’s Echimys and Loncheres are identical 
with my Echinomys ; and Lund’s Nelomys agrees, in all material 
respects, with Jourdan’s genus of the same name (or Loncheres accord- 
ing to my definition) ; but differs from it by the want of bristles, as it 
appears, and by a small variation in the molars. 
Lund has only found some under jaws of Phyllomys hrasiliensis, in a 
hole in the valley of the Rio da Velhas. He has obtained no species as 
yet of his Echimys, to which he joins E. chrysurus, cajennensis, &e. ; 
but he has got two species of Loncheres, which he distinguishes as 
L, elegans and latice'ps. Loncheres elegans he says is generally distri- 
buted. It is slender, and of a rat-like appearance ; superiorly rich 
rusty yellow brown, beneath pure white ; both colours stop suddenly ; 
tail scaly, thinly covered with hairs, which, towards the end, increase in 
length, so that they here form a thin pencil ; body 8" ; tail 8^". In 
my opinion, this species will be nothing else than Echinomys leptosoma, 
(E. cajennensis). Of the habits of the Bristly Rats, hitherto quite 
unknown, Lund gives us the first information. L. elegans keeps in the 
neighbourhood of standing waters, where it makes its nest amongst the 
sedges. It swims quickly, visits by night the corn fields, when it climbs 
the maize stalks, nibbles the ears, and destroys the crop. According to 
Natterer’s information, the species of Echinomys ascend the trees, whilst 
those of Nelomys inhabit holes. This latter fact Lund also observed. 
Of Lund’s second species of Loncheres, called by him L. laticeps, I find 
no other account by him, than that (p. 99) it is rare. Lund also men- 
tions two living species of Nelomys [Loncheres of the reporter), N. an~ 
tricola and sulcidens. Nelomys antricola (p. 246), formerly called by 
him Echinomys apereoides (p. 98), is not a true Bristly Rat, as it wants 
every trace of bristles, and its hairs are of the usual construction. 
It is plump, with a thick snout, short ears, and very hairy tail; above 
grey-brown, composed of a mixture of rusty yellow and black-brown'; 
beneath white ; body 10" ; tail 7^" : lives in holes, and feeds on all 
organic substances which it can gnaw. N. sulcidens, Lund, is only 
known from the remains of bones that have been found, according to 
which it differs in this respect from the other species, that the cutting 
92 
