598 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



cheval-de-frise of sharp spikes toward any animal that may present 

 itself as an enemy. Another peculiarity is the power possessed by 

 these creatures of rolling themselves into a round ball, by placing the 

 head on the breast, drawing up the legs, and curling the body firmly 

 round the members. By this posture the hedgehogs render themselves 

 invulnerable to almost any animal that may attack them. . . . When 

 in this curious attitude, the hedgehog can not be unrolled by main 

 force, as long as any life remains in the body, for there is an enor- 

 mously developed muscle, with a very thick margin, which spreads over 

 the back and round the sides, and which, when contracted, holds the 

 creature in so firm an embrace that it will be torn in pieces rather than 

 yield its point." 



The spines of this animal are about an inch long, and naturally lie 

 flat on the back, directed toward the tail. But by a peculiar arrange- 

 ment they are erected when the owner coils himself. In shape the 

 spine " is not unlike a large pin, being sharply pointed at one ex- 

 tremity, and furnished at the other with a round, bead-like head, and 

 rather abruptly bent near the head. If the skin be removed from the 

 hedgehog, the quills are seen to be pinned, as it were, through the 

 skin, being retained by their round heads, which are acted upon by 

 the peculiar muscle which has already been mentioned. 



" Protected by this defense, the hedgehog is enabled to throw 

 itself from considerable heights, to curl itself into a ball as it descends, 

 and to reach the ground without suffering any harm from its fall. A 

 hedgehog has been seen repeatedly to throw itself from a wall some 

 twelve or fourteen feet in height, and to fall upon the hard ground 

 without appearing to be even inconvenienced by its tumble. On reach- 

 ing the ground, it would unroll itself and trot off with perfect uncon- 

 cern." 



The quills upon the " fretful porcupine " are several inches in 

 length. The absurd belief that this animal could throw its quills at 

 an enemy, after the fashion of a lance, arose from the following facts : 

 " Their hold on the skin is very slight, so that, when they have been 

 struck into a foe, they remain fixed in the wound, and, unless imme- 

 diately removed, work sad woe to the sufferer. For the quill is so 

 constructed that it gradually bores its way into the flesh, burrowing 

 deeper at every movement, and sometimes even causing the death of 

 the wounded creature. In Africa and India leopards and tigers have 

 frequently been killed in whose flesh were pieces of porcupine-quills, 

 that had penetrated deeply into the body, and had even caused sup- 

 puration to take place. In one instance a tiger was found to have his 

 paws, ears, and head filled with the spines of a porcupine which he had 

 vainly been endeavoring to kill. ... If irritated or wounded, the 

 porcupine becomes at once a very unpleasant antagonist, as it spreads 

 out its bristles widely, and rapidly backs upon its opponent." 



Many small creatures are undoubtedly protected by offensive fluids 



