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CANADIAN PORCUPINE. 



European species, but his back is thickly set 

 with spines, which are more than two inches and a 

 half in length, and form a sufficient protection 

 against every enemy but man. Being unable to 

 escape by flight, the Porcupine has recourse to 

 various expedients when danger presses, and trust- 

 ing, it would seem, in the prickly coat by which he 



THE CANADIAN PORCUPINE, (Hystrix dorsata.) 



is defended, he places his head between his legs, 

 folds himself into a ball, and erects his pointed 

 spines, against which the cunning of the fox, the 

 fury of the wolf, and the persevering attacks of the 

 domestic dog, are alike unavailing. At every 

 attempt to bite, the nose and mouth of the aggressor 

 are severely wounded, and if he rashly renews the 

 attack, death is often the consequence of his teme- 



