THE BRAZILIAN PORCUPINE. 117 



dry, hollow, open quills, of considerable circumference, 

 and supported upon long and very slender stalks, which 

 vibrate with every motion. When the porcupine clashes 

 these together they produce a rustling noise. The ap- 

 paratus by which the spines and these hollow rattles are 

 clashed and raised consists of a strong muscular expansion 

 underneath, and adherent to, the thick skin. From the 

 raising and clashing of the spines, and perhaps the acci- 

 dental falling of one looser than the rest (about to be 

 shed naturally), has arisen the belief that the animal was 

 capable of darting his spines, like a javelin, point fore- 

 most — an error we need not stay to confute. 



The Brazilian Porcupine 



{Synetheres prehensilis ; Cuandu of Marcgrave ; Coeiidu, 

 Buffon; Prehensile Porcupine of Penuaut). 



In North America the porcupines are represented by 

 the Hairy or Canada Porcupine (^Erethizon dorsutum) , 

 which is in a great degree arboreal in its habits. In 

 Brazil we are presented with the species termed Cuandu, 

 more decidedly organised as a climber, having a pre- 

 hensile tail resembling that of the opossum. The 

 muzzle is broad and short ; the head convex in front, the 

 spines rather short; the tail very long, and naked for 

 half its length. The feet have only four toes. The 

 length of this species is about two feet, exclusive of the 

 tail, which is about eighteen inches ; the nose is covered 

 with brownish hair ; the ears are nearly naked ; the body 

 is covered above with spines : the longest (on the lower 

 part of the back) are about three inches in length ; those 

 on the sides and base of the limbs are the shortest. All 

 arc sharp, and barred near their points and roots with 

 white ; brown in the middle. The basal half of the tail 

 is clad with short spines ; the breast, under parts, and 

 lower portion of the limbs with dark brown bristles. 

 (Fig. 75.) 



The Brazilian porcupine appears very much to re- 

 semble the Canada {)orcupine in its habits, living in 

 woods, sleeping- by day, and feeding on fruits, &c. by 



