382 TlMEHRI. 
A chemical examination of the root showed that, 
besides a large quantity of gum and colouring matter, it 
contained a resin of a light yellow colour and peculiar 
smell, and an acid differing in quality from any known 
acid, but regarding the state of combination of which in 
the plant, no precise information had been obtained ; a 
quarter of a grain of this acid, obviously not in a state of 
purity, poisoned a minnow in half an hour. The proper- 
ties of the resin had not been examined." 
A new spiny Rat from Demerara. — In the Annals 
and Magazine of Natural History, October, 1888, a 
description is given of a new species of spiny rat 
(Loncheres guianx) , by Mr. Oldfield THOMAS, Zoolo- 
gical Department, British Museum. The two specimens 
on which the species is founded, were forwarded to 
England to be mounted for the Colonial Museum, and 
were presented by Mr. John JUNOR, of Plantation 
Providence, E. B., to whom the Museum has been very 
greatly indebted during the last year, for large and 
valuable specimens of animals. 
Loncheres guianx, sp. n. 
Fur thickly spinous, the hairs between the spines 
scarcely perceptible. Muzzle, rich rufous ; crown of the 
head, fore back, flanks, and outer sides of limbs 
coarsely grizzled black and pale yellow, both hairs and 
spines slaty-grey for four-fifths their length, the former 
with a sub-terminal band of pale yellow, the latter 
black-tipped. Spines on posterior back with a narrow 
orange tip, which gradually broadens and deepens 
in colour until the rump is a bright rufous. Whiskers 
