1340 



THE RODENTS 



The quills on the body are of two kinds the one distinguished by their great 

 length, slenderness, and flexibility, while the others are shorter and stouter, and are 

 mostly concealed by the longer ones. These quills are mostly marked with broad 

 rings of black and white; both extremities being of the latter hue. Those on the 

 rump are, however, chiefly black; while the open quills at the end of the tail, as 

 well as most of those clothing the rest of that appendage, are entirely white. This 

 porcupine inhabits Southern Europe and Northern and Western Africa. 

 Other Species In Inc ^ a t ^ ie common species is replaced by the closely-allied hairy- 

 nosed porcupine (H. leucurd), distinguished by the muzzle being 

 densely clad with hairs, as well as by the quills at the base of the tail, and some- 

 times a row in the middle of the hinder part of the back, being mostly white. The 

 skull, moreover, is less convex, with smaller nasal bones. This species is found 

 from Ceylon to Kashmir, and appears to extend westward as far as the Black Sea. 





AFRICAN BRUSH-TAILED PORCUPINE. 

 (One- sixth natural size.) 



Two other species inhabit India; of which the Bengal porcupine (H. bengalensis) , 

 has a much shorter crest on the neck, while in Hodgson's porcupine this crest is 

 totally wanting. The latter occurs in the Eastern Himalayas, and is represented 

 by allied forms in Borneo and the Malayan region. The South- African porcupine 

 (H. afrce-australis) is a third representative of the crested group. Fossil porcupines 

 occur in the Pliocene rocks of Northern India, and also in the upper and middle 

 Tertiaries of Europe. 



As the habits of all the true porcupines appear to be very similar, 

 they may be treated collectively. In the first place, it should be men- 

 tioned that the old idea of porcupines being able to eject their quills at an enemy 

 is a pure fable. Although a belated individual may occasionally be seen making its 



Habits 



