GTJERLINGUE*, 
109 
Tegs are short ; the feet divided into four toes ; 
with weak crooked claws ; and in place of a 
thumb, a small tubercle. On the hind part of 
the head, and along the back, are scattered several 
hairs, much longer than the rest, and of a very 
different form and substance, being flat, stiff, and 
rough to the touch ; they seem to arise from small 
transparent sheaths, and their conformation is 
highly singular, each hair, or rather quill, being 
cylindric, arid very small near the body, growing 
flat towards the middle part where it is half a line 
broad, and thence gradually diminishing to a very 
fine point ; along the middle runs a. channel, or 
gutter, which, if examined with a glass, appears 
yellow, while the sides, which are elevated, are of 
a brown colour, and thus a sort of double reflec- 
tion of light takes place, causing the purplish 
tinge above mentioned ; these singular hairs or 
quills become gradually smaller as they approach 
the sides of the body, and quite disappear towards 
the abdomen. It seems to be an animal formed for 
climbing trees, and from the description given 
above, it will appear that Mr. Schreber's opinion 
is just, and that it should in reality be considered, 
notwithstanding its diminutive size, as a species of 
porcupine. Its length from nose to tail, is five 
inches, and of the tail six inches and nine lines. 
Gu ERLINGUET. 
This animal is described in the seventh supple* 
mental volume of the count de Buffon’s Natural 
History, and is said to be of the size of a squirrel, 
hut of a longer form. It is a native of Guiana, 
and resides on trees. Its teeth resemble those of a 
squirrel, and it has the same method of elevating 
its tail, which is longer than the body, and ob- 
scurely atmulated with numerous alternate brown 
