340 



ERETHIZON DORSATUS, (Linne) (Allen). 



THE CANADA PORCUPINE. 



Specific Character.— 'Fnv, dark brown; the long projecting bri.stly hairs, 

 du.sky, with white tips; .spines white, the points dusky. Nasal bones not more 

 than one-third the length of the upper surface of the skull. 



Habitat.— ^Q^\ England and Ohio, northwestward. Common in northern 

 Ontario. 



Average Size — Equal to that of the beaver or a half -grown dog. 



Average Weight. — 15 to 20 pounds. 



Average Height. — 10 inches. 



Average Length. — From tip of nose to end of tail about 2h feet. 



Skin valueless. 



The porcupine is of a size about equal to that of the beaver. 



The muffle is entirely hairy, the fore feet have only four fingers, without 

 any rudiment of a thumb, and all the claws are long an :1 of nearly equal length. 



The tail is short, very thick, and much depressed. 



The porcupine is covered on the upper parts and sides with a dense growth 

 of short spines, which becom-i thinner and thinner nearer the lower pirt? of the 

 sides v/here they jiass into coarse bristly hairs. 



The under fur is soft and of a dark brown colour, very nearly black. 



The limbs are brownish where not covered with spines. 



The .spines are yellowish on the back, whitish on the sides, and tipped with 

 brown. 



The porcupine spends most of its time in the trees, it moves but slowly on 

 the ground, but its armour of spines affords it ample protection against all 

 enemies. 



It lives chiefly on bark which it strips from the trees as cleanl}' as if with a 

 knife. When it commence.s its meal it ascends the tree and commences with the 

 highest branches making its way downward to the foot. 



The Porcupine is a quiet animal and easily alarmed. 



The teeth are of a bright orange colour. 



The nest is made in the hollow of trees or in crevices amongst the rocks. 



The young are born in April or May, usually one but occasionally two at 

 a time. 



