THE GNAWERS 



91 



finds it dififi- 



ine — the implacable enemy of the beaver 

 cult to break into one of these houses. 



One of the most singular of all the rodents, so far as 

 appearances are concerned, is the porcupine (Fig. 73), in 

 which the body is covered with stiff, black and white quills 

 from three to twelve inches in length. One of the well-es- 



FiG. 73. — A Groui' of Rodents. 

 I, Field mice ; 2, Porcupine. 



tablished fictions of zoology is the story that the porcupine 

 can throw its spines like arrows, and many persons can be 

 found who will testify that they have seen the act. A 

 large porcupine was once placed in a box with a rabbit, 

 and irritated in every way to demonstrate to some doubters 

 that such an act was impossible. It was very easy to see 

 how the story became current. When attacked, the animal 



