500 



SPINES OF PORCUPINE 



and even occairring in Europe. There are several species, of 

 which the common Hystrix cristata is the l»est known, and is the 

 one whicli is to Ije found in Europe. 



Tlie spines of the common form and of the others are solid in 

 the ndddle of the body, hut on the tail they are expanded into 

 hollow quills, which make much rattling. They are as a rule 

 black and white, the middle of the spine being- banded with 

 black. A great crest of coarse long hairs on the head is 

 responsible for the scientific name of the well -known form. 



Fig. 24.5. — Common Porcu] line. TTiixfri.r crixtafa. y-xJi- 



Sometimes in this genus, as in the Tree Porcupines of Brazil, the 

 spines are orange or yellow ; but it is said that the colour is soon 

 lost in this country. As a matter of fact it is the easiest thing 

 in the world to wa.sh out with ordinary tap-water much of the 

 yellow colour of the spines of the South American Sj^hingurvs. 

 The same may be the case with the pigment of the Old- World 

 Porcupines. There are fourteen to fifteen dorsal verteln'ae and 

 four or five luml)ars. The tail varies in length, but is shorter 

 than the long tail of the arboreal New-World forms. It seems 

 impossible when mentioning the Porcupine to escape from some 

 ol)servations about its alleged habit of shooting its quills. For 

 some reason or other Buffon has got the credit of inventing, or at 



