PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. 
VOL, XX XII. 
576 
considered synonymous with part of Hystrix, However, the material 
at hand shows very considerable differences between llydrvz proper 
and Aeanthkm, which will he pointed out further on. With regard 
to some of the species in the various genera of Malayan porcupines, I 
have not seen a sufficient number of specimens to determine the char¬ 
acters satisfactorily. Where several forms of one group, each form 
occupying a definite and isolated geographic area, have been named I 
have made use of the names bestowed upon them even if their specific 
characters are not clear, believing this plan better than to place them 
under one specific name, for material is as lacking to show their iden¬ 
tity as it is to show their distinctness. 
The list of works to which reference has been made in preparing 
these notes will be found uuder the synonymy of the ditferent species 
or referred to in footnotes. The specimens on which these notes are 
based are listed in the table uf measurements, page 593. They repre¬ 
sent forty individuals from Malaya, thirty-three skins with skulls, two 
odd skulls, and five skeletons. All but three of these specimens were 
collected by Dr. W. L. Abbott, and have been presented by him to 
the U. 8. National Museum. 
KEY TO TIIE GENERA OF MALAYAN PORCUPINES. 
a Tail short, less than one-fourth length of head and body; caudal hairs terminating 
mostly in hollow capsule-like structures, molars rootless, sacral vertebra 
four......... .Subfamily H ystrici n je > p. 578 
b Dorsal profile of skull arched, nasals extending back to level of lachrymals, and 
contained into dorsal outline two and one-half times.. _ ..Amnthion, p. 578 
bb Dorsal profile of skull nearly straight, nasals extending back to level of anterior 
border of infraorbital foramen, contained into dorsal outline three and one- 
half times ..... Tftmiru#, p. 582 
aa Tail long, one-third to one-half length of head and body, terminating in a tuft of 
modified bristles, molars rooted, sacral vertebra three. 
Subfamily Athelrurinje, p. 584 
c Each caudal scale subtended by three hairs, terminal bristles alternately 
ex pended and contracted....... Aihtmrus^ p. 584 
<5C Each caudal scale subtended by a single hair, terminal bristles of uniform 
width throughout.... Tricfojx, p. 588 
Tabular view of the principal external and cranial character* of the genem of Old World 
porcupines. 
.Characters. 
3 
i 
C 
% 
£ 
Tail short, less than onc-ioiirth head and body... 
Tail fonger, oue-tli+rd to one-half heart and body 
Tail longer, one-half head and tiody_____ 
X 
X 
Candul laifra terminating mostly In a hollow, open, capsule-like structure tour 
to five s lines I os iff cr than wide, ....... 
Caudal huirs Terminating mostly In a hid low, open or (‘Insert capsule-like struc¬ 
ture three times longer than wide....... 
Caudal hairs, flattened bristlesalternately expanded and contracted.. 
Caudal bulla, flattened bristles of uniform width throughout........ 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
