24 BULLETIN OF THE LABORATORI ES 



In the vicinity of the settlements they seem strictly nocturnal, 

 coming out of their burrows at dusk and retiring into them again 

 at daybreak. But deeper in the forest they may be seen sporting 

 about their burrows or swinging in the tree-tops above them at almost 

 any time of day. Though very awkward on the ground, they are ex- 

 cellent climbers and will mount the straightest pine trunk with the 

 greatest agility, with, however, a ludicrous appearance of clumsiness 

 and a clatter which can always be recognized. Members of the same 

 litter (usually not more than two) appear to keep together during the 

 first season, even after maturity, and may frequently be encountered 

 after nightfall picking their way through the brush in single file with 

 that shambling gait and peculiar squeaking cry which at once remind 

 one of a litter of half-grown pigs, and which wins for them the com- 

 mon appellation of "quill pigs." 



Later in the year we had an encounter with one under rather un- 

 usual circumstances. Quietly paddling in a birch canoe provided 

 with a flaming torch in the bow, we were watching for the luminous 

 eyes of deer, which in the brightly illuminated area, stood quaking at 

 the sudden apparition, or stampeded and rushed up and down piping 

 a warning note to the remainder of the herd. 



Our attention was attracted by a peculiar clattering sound — evi- 

 dently the teeth of some animal in rapid motion, but louder and more 

 rapid than anything we had ever heard. The source of the sound we 

 were for a time unable to make out, but it was soon betrayed by the 

 sound of heavy feet and some clumsy animal approached the swampy- 

 shore and began to feed upon the new growth of arrow-head leaf 

 (Sagittaria) with the same noisy clatter. A charge of heavy shot 

 brought the animal to the water's edge where, to our surprise, it imme- 

 diately took to the water and swam toward us in a decidedly vindic- 

 tive mood. Twice we fired buck shot into it at yard range before it 

 ceased its attempts to swamp us. The stomach of this animal con- 

 tained nothing but the finely divided shoots of sagittaria. On the 

 same night a second individual was shot which clambered to the top 

 of a tall tree. It must not be assumed, however, that the porcupine 

 is necessarily nocturnal. In the sunny afternoon they may be seen 

 feeding in the meadows, using their four clawed hands with awkward 

 cleverness in bringing grass tufts within reach of the mouth. If 

 alarmed they clamber under the overhanging bank, and, drawing the 



