10 L. W. SACKETT 



Vocalizations. — The most common sound in the vocahzation 

 of the porcupines is the bark, or yap with a tonal quahty not 

 unlike that of the human voice. It is used during their quarrels 

 and seems to express a state of anger and resentment. The 

 same quality of tone made nasal and drawn out into a w^hine 

 is used w^hen an animal is being robbed of its food, or driven 

 from its corner in the den. It seems to have the same quality 

 of emotional setting as the first, less the element of active resist- 

 ance. The third A'ocalization is also nasal but unmistakably 

 different from the second. It is rounded, mellow and crooning, 

 with a quality very hard to imitate and even more difficult to 

 describe. It is said to be used freely during the mating season 

 and is certainly more common in the season when the young 

 are born. It has been mistaken a few times by experienced 

 observers for the cooing of doves, and might be so confused by 

 one less acquainted with the porcupine. It seems to be the one 

 conciliating factor in the social control of the porcupine. 



Somewhat related to these vocalizations and more common 

 than all of them combined is the chatter of the teeth. Such 

 an action on the part of the wood-chuck seems intended espe- 

 cially to terrorize and is accompanied by starts and charges; 

 but in the porcupine the act is not so highly specialized. The 

 wood-chuck will even bite an antagonist and the un fleshing and 

 chattering of teeth may well be considered anticipatory to that 

 form of defense. Porcupines do not defend themselves in this 

 manner. The reaction seems to have a less definitized mental 

 accompaniment and in case of fright may persist for 20 or 30 

 minutes after the occasion would seem to be passed. Such a 

 reaction may be called out by a distant noise where there could 

 be no chance of terrorizing the enemy. The failure of a piece 

 of apparatus to act in the ordinary way is frequently "scolded" 

 in this manner. The porcupine may chatter when the apple 

 given him is a little too soar or the carrot has a spoiled end. In 

 addition, it appears to be a signal of suspected danger, very 

 similar to the stamp of the rabbit's foot for, when once started, 

 it is often taken up by others in what would seem to be a reflex 

 if not an imitative manner. The writer is quite sure that the 

 fact of his presence, or rather the presence of danger, was, on 

 several occasions, communicated by means of this telegraphic 

 code to all in the dens, spoiling the observation of the evening, 



