North American Porcupine. 191 



Mg consists of long coarse hair, and a coat of shorter fur, in- 

 termixed with scattered spines. But the great cluster of spines, 

 (or quills, as they have been termed,) and which he uses as a 

 means of defence, are attached to a loose skiu on the extreme 

 part of the back near the tail, and when at rest can barely be 

 seen projecting through the hair around that part. But on 

 the animal's being irritated, he has the power (by means of 

 strong muscles attached to the neck) of spreading them over 

 the back with their points in every direction. Nor is this the 

 only means of defence he makes use of. The tail, which is 

 also armed with smaller spines, is held close to the body, or 

 elevated in such a manner, that on the approach of an enemy 

 he can strike suddenly, leaving his barbed spines, which ad- 

 here very loosely, to find their way to the very heart of those 

 who molest him ; for it is a fact, that they have the extraor- 

 dinary and peculiar property of penetrating further into the 

 flesh after being once lodged : and it often happens that dogs 

 have been penetrated by them in every direction, so as 

 frequently to cause their death. This arises from the struc- 

 ture of the points, which are very sharp, and covered with a 

 great number of small barbs, scarcely perceptible to the naked 

 eye, lying imbricated over each other, and pointing back- 

 wards, so that on the least motion they are propelled forwards, 

 in the same manner that an ear of rye will move up the arm 

 when placed on the wrist. The tail which is large, and of a 

 fleshy substance, is linguiform, depressed and about the thick- 

 ness of a man's hand. Above, it is studded over with numbers 

 of smaller spines ; beneath it is thickly matted with a sort of 

 bristles. On the upper surface there exudes a strong and 

 fetid oil from a number of small pustules, which gives the 

 quills a greasy appearance, and probably may be another 

 means of keeping his enemies at bay. In walking this mem- 

 ber is dragged along the ground. 



The quills are white, tipt with black, and are from half an 

 inch to three in length. They are loosely attached to the 



