THE PORCUPINE FAMILY. 



163 



which attains the si/e of an ordinary rabbit, 

 and lives like moles in Canada and the Rocky 

 Mountain region. It digs out tunnels, builds 

 complicated nests, and throws up mounds of 

 earth. Notwithstanding its underground life 

 its eyes are well developed; the external ears, 

 on the other hand, are altogether wanting; 

 the tail is thin and short. The strong claws 

 on the five toes attain a considerable length, 

 especially on the fore-feet. The cheek - 

 pouches opening externally on the sides of 

 the mouth are very large and reach back to 



the shoulders. The fur is soft and velvety 

 like that of a mole; it is of a dark-gray colour, 

 reddish on the back, lighter underneath. 



THE PORCUPINE FAMILY 



(HYSTRICIDA). 



This family comprises mostly clumsy thick- 

 set forms, which have a defensive armour 

 consisting of spines on the back. In each 

 half of each jaw they have four cheek-teeth 

 with or without roots, but always provided 



g. 223. The African Brash-tailed Porcupine (At/icrur.i 



page 164. 



with enamel folds. The collar-bones are not 

 fully developed ; in most cases only the middle 

 portion is ossified, while the two ends are 

 still cartilaginous or tendinous. The porcu- 

 pines may be divided into two groups: those 

 of the Old World are animals that live on the 

 ground; those of the New World, on the 

 contrary, are arboreal in their habits, and 

 often even have a tail capable of being rolled 

 up. 



The Common European Porcupine (Hystrix 

 cnstata], PI. XXXVI I., inhabits the countries 

 on the Mediterranean, but is especially abun- 

 dant in Algeria and Asia Minor, while in 

 Italy, Sicily, and Spain it has become rather 

 rare. On account of its plump thickset body 

 it has been compared to the pig. It attains 



a length of rather more than 2 feet, but the 

 short thick tail measures only about 4 inches. 

 The head is blunt in front and has an arched 

 brow. The upper lip is cloven, and this 

 cleft communicates with a transverse groove 

 into which the nostrils open. The first digit 

 is rudimentary, especially on the fore-feet, 

 but the other toes, four in number, are all 

 provided with strong sharp claws. The front 

 part of the body is covered with short strong 

 bristles. The bristly defensive armour begins 

 on the brow. The hairs, which are at first 

 flexible, become stiffer and stiffer till they at 

 last acquire the form of strong spines marked 

 with alternate stripes, such as we are all 

 familiar with as used for pen-holders, brush- 

 holders, and the like. These spines, which 



