FIELD BOOK OF MAMMALS 



Total length, 26.5 inches; tail vertebrae, 8 inches; hind foot, 

 3.5 inches. Found on the Alaska Peninsula; limits of range 

 unknown. 



The Porcupine is a big, clumsy, slow-moving rodent so 

 characteristic in appearance that it may be recognized as far 

 as it can be seen. Secure in its defense of sharp quills, it does 

 not need to be fleet of foot and can be easily approached 

 when encountered. Although the Porcupine usually makes 

 some effort to get out of the way of man, it relies upon its 

 quills if crowded, and with head down and quills erected waits 

 for any offensive move. 



VvT'hen not aroused, the quills may often be fairly well hidden 

 in the long, coarse pelage, but when alarmed, the animal has 

 the faculty of erecting the quills so that they stand out at a 

 steep angle from the body, especially along the lower back. 

 The thick, muscular tail is an effective weapon of offense and 

 with it the Porcupine delivers such a quick slap that a too- 

 inquisitive Dog will have its face driven full of quills, if it 

 comes up to a waiting Porcupine. The story of Porcupines 

 shooting quills is a pure myth and perhaps arose from the fact 

 that the animal is able to reach out and drive quills home with 

 a slap of the tail. Quills may be shaken loose if a Porcupine 

 is disturbed, but they are not cast voluntarily. Quite often, 

 dislodged quills become lodged in the Porcupine itself after a 

 violent encounter with some enemy, but these presumably 

 cause no trouble to the Porcupine. 



On the other hand, any animal that deliberately attacks a 

 Porcupine which is in a posture of defense, nose drawn in and 

 belly to the ground, can hardly escape injuries which are 

 likely to prove fatal. The quills have tiny barbs and once 

 bedded in flesh tend to work inward. Quills in the head, 

 throat, or chest eventually pierce a vital spot and it is practi- 

 cally impossible for a wild animal to pull a quill out. In fact, 

 it is no easy matter for a man to pull them out of a Dog, and 

 it takes a good tug to draw out a quill that has been set in by 

 the tail of the Porcupine. The base of the quill is but loosely 

 fastened in the skin of the big rodent and any slight pressure 

 against an enemy is sufficient to transfer the sharp spine 

 from the Porcupine to the attacker. 



In temperment the Porcupine appears to be dull, stupid, and 

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