HABITS OF THE PORCUPINE. 121 



rity, from inflammation occasioned by the adhering 

 prickles. The quills, when highly magnified, appear 

 to be barbed at the tip with numerous small reversed 

 points, and are so slightly attached to the skin, as 

 to be easily thrown off. The animal will even, when 

 offended, brush against the legs of those who disturb 

 him, and leave many of his spines adhering to the 

 skin. The above sketch is that of a female, which 

 Major Smith drew when in Canada. While the 

 Major was thus employed, she stuck several of her 

 quills into the hand of a man who unwisely at- 

 tempted to caress her. She appeared fearless, and 

 walked round him several times, as if disposed for 

 further acquaintance, till watching an opportunity, 

 as he stooped to admire her, she suddenly brushed 

 herself against his hand, which produced a few drops 

 of blood, with many ejaculations. 



This animal abounds in the country of Hudson's 

 Bay, in Canada, and New England, in some parts of 

 the Western States, and throughout those unculti- 

 vated regions which extend between the Rocky 

 Mountains and the great western rivers. He is still 

 occasionally found in remote and unsettled parts of 

 Pennsylvania, but to the southward of that state he 

 is entirely unknown. The species pass a consider- 

 able portion of their time in sleep, and are appa- 

 rently both solitary and sluggish; they feed on the 

 bark and buds of trees during the winter season, 

 but in summer principally on wild fruits. Dr. Best, 

 of Lexington, observed, that when the snow was 

 on the ground they generally remained in hollow 

 trees; he traced their footsteps on the snow, and 

 found that they travelled from their dwelling to the 



