616 Life-histories of Northern Animals 



so, without success. Indeed, if the animal be turned on its 

 back (and it costs the investigator much effort to turn it, as 

 it is sturdy in its legs), it lies exposed and helpless, which 

 would not be the case if it had the habit of making itself into a 

 ball. The old hunters say it never does so except, perhaps, 

 when falling from a height, and then it opens out on striking the 

 ground. After many opportunities to observe, I can state 

 that, on meeting an enemy from which it cannot escape, the 

 Porcupine tucks its head under a root, a log, or other cover, 

 raises its quills, radiating them all ways from the small of the 

 back, and lashes with its tail at the slightest intimation of the 

 foe being near. If it has no cover for its head, but happens 

 to know of one in the direction of the enemy, it backs toward 

 that, lashing its tail to clear the way, and there be few creatures 

 indeed that do not heed the warning. 



An adult female which I caught on the Oswagatchie,N. Y., 

 was held with a noose on its hind-foot while being examined. 

 The foolish thing so resented this indignity that it lashed its 

 own outstretched foot full of quills; and it cost us no little 

 trouble to get them out, as we felt in honour bound to do, 

 before we let the fretful one go free. 



Bachman has left us this very exact picture of the Porcu- 

 pine repelling a foe:^^ 



"A large, ferocious, and exceedingly troublesome mastiff, 

 belonging to the neighbourhood, had been in the habit of 

 digging a hole under the fence, and entering our garden. 

 Early one morning we saw him making a dash at some object 

 in the corner of the fence, which proved to be our Porcupine, 

 which had during the night made its escape from the cage. 

 The dog seemed regardless of all its threats, and probably sup- 

 posing it to be an animal not more formidable than a cat, 

 sprang upon it, with open mouth. The Porcupine seemed to 

 swell up in an instant to nearly double its size, and as the 

 dog pounced upon it, it dealt him such a sidewise lateral blow 

 with its tail as caused the mastiff to relinquish his hold in- 



'« Quad. N. A., 1849, Vol. I, p. 281. 



