1S87.] PKOCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 179 



A Chinamau lierder, employed on the range, killed four of these ani- 

 mals for me at this plaee inside of a week's time, and others could prob. 

 ably have been taken if 1 had been there to keep careful watch for 

 them. Ou my returii to the main camp I shot one in the act of gnawing 

 this particular stump, the animal being too much absorbed in its occu- 

 pation to pay any attention to my approach. Before we abandoned that 

 camp the Porcupines had gnawed a hole completely through the stump 

 from side to side. Its original diameter was about IS inches. 



Dogs that have experienced the disadvantages of Porcupine fighting 

 are reluctant to engage with them again, one tussel being sufficient for 

 the majority of them. Those attached to our camp would bristle up 

 when they came around, but would wisely retire from the scene of action 

 with knowing growls. 



A rancher living Smiles south of Susanville, in the same (Lassen) 

 county, told me that a dog belonging to his ranch killed more than 

 twenty Porcupines before succumbing to his injuries. In addition to 

 this number he had treed nearly as many besides, which were killed by 

 his master and the people about the place. This was related by the 

 man, Mr. S. xVlexauder, in the i)resence of several of his neighbors, who 

 did not seem' inclined to question the verity of the statements, and 1 

 repeat it as an illustration of the unoommon abundance of the Porcupine 

 in that region. 



A sheep-herder on a neighboring range whom I had interrogated as 

 to the possibility of obtaining specimens of this aniuial, replied, "Fou'll 

 soon get all you wantif you stay round here; they won't trouble them- 

 selves to get out of a person's way." Uis prediction as to their abun- 

 dance was soon verified, and he spoke not less truly of their stupid fear- 

 lessness of man, for I soon after approached two by day, in the open 

 woods, which were easily dispatched with clubs. 



It was ascertained from other herders in that section that it was the 

 habit of Porcupines to prowl about cabins by night and nibble at boxes, 

 tables, and other camping furniture that had traces of salt upon them. 

 There could be no doubt but that salt, and salt only, was the source of 

 their attraction to the above mentioned stump. 



When assaulted, the Porcupine makes no defensive demonstration 

 other than the erection of its quills. It retreats only at a feeble swayin«- 

 trot, which a child could surpass, and if closely pressed it moves off 

 sideways with mouth open and back arched. 



All the specimens obtained were infested with wood-ticks to a dis- 

 yiusting extent, and their legs and bellies were covered with sores from 

 this cause. There being no quills on the legs and underp arts it was not 

 as difficult a job to skin them as might be supposed. They have but 

 small eyes for the size of their heads, with a decidedly ''piggish" look 

 about them. 



ISTotwithstanding the abundance of the species in Lassen County, 

 observed but one individual in Shasta and Siskiyou Counties dur- 



