HISTORY OF VERMONT. 107 



the forehead. The tail is long", and round, with 

 annular stripes in it. This animal dwells in the 

 retired part of the woods, runs up the trees with 

 great agility, and ventures to the extremes of 

 the boughs. Its fur is thick, long, and soft j 

 and of a dark grey colour. Tlie weight of one 

 of the largest in Vermont, was thirty two pounds. 

 It is often found in hollow trees, and its flesh is 

 excellent food. 



The Porcupine, or Hedgehog, is not un- 

 common in Vermont. What is singular and 

 tnost distinguishing in this anim.al, are the quills 

 with which he is armed. These quills are a- 

 bout four inches in length ; and of the size of 

 the quills of a pigeon. When the porcupine is 

 attacked by an enenrty, he places his head be- 

 tween his fore feet, and erects these quills all 

 around, in the form of an hemisphere. He has 

 no power to eject them from his body, or dart 

 them against his enemy, as has been frequently 

 said. But they are so loosely inserted in his 

 flesh, and of such a particular construction, that 

 they are easily extracted, and like a barbed dart 

 stick fast, and work themselves into the flesh of 

 any animal that touches their extremities ; nor 

 can they be easily withdrawn, without tearing 

 the flesh, but by incision. On this account 

 they prove extremely dangerous to the dog, or 

 to any other animal that makes an attack upon 

 , the porcupine. The colour of this animal, is 

 grey : His motion is extremely slow. The fe- 

 male produces her young every year ; the time 

 of gestation is about forty days, and she gener- 

 ally brings forth three or four at a birth. One 

 of the largest of these animals, weighed sixteen 



