HYSTRIX LEUCURA. 219 



pi. 14. H. zeylanensis, BLYTH. Sayi, Sayal, Sarsel, H., in various 

 parts of the country. Sajru, Bengal. Saori, in Gujrat. Salendra, 

 Mahr. of the Ghats. Yed, Can. Yeddu pandi, Tel. Dumsi, in Nepal. 

 Ho-igu of Gonds. 



THE INDIAN PORCUPINE. 



Descr. Muzzle clad with short stiff bristly hairs, and a few white 

 spines on the face ; spines on the throat short, grooved, some with white 

 points, forming a demi-collar ; crest full, long, chiefly of black bristles, 

 a few of them only with long white points ; the larger quills on the back 

 black ; many annulated with white at base and middle, and some with 

 white points ; the long thin quills mostly white at tip ; the quills on the 

 loins mostly all white ; the pedunculated quills of the tail yellowish- 

 white; some of the quills of the sides and lumbar regions flat and 

 striated ; whiskers long, black, a few tipped white. 



Length of one, head and body 32 inches ; tail 7. 



The Indian Porcupine closely resembles the porcupine of Africa and 

 the South of Europe, but differs, according to Waterhouse, in "the 

 quills of the lumbar regions being white in leucura, and chiefly dusky 

 in the cristata ; and the bristles of the crest of the latter have all 

 long white points, whereas in leucura only some have white points ; 

 the rest are entirely brown. The long quills of the back have the 

 white more extended in leucura" 



This porcupine is found over a great part of India, from the lower 

 ranges of the Himalayas to the extreme south, but does not occur in 

 Lower Bengal, where it is replaced by the next one. It forms extensive 

 burrows, often in societies, in the sides of hills, banks of rivers and 

 nullahs, and very often in the bunds of tanks, and in old mud walls, 

 &c. &c. In some parts of the country they are very destructive to 

 various crops, potatoes, carrots, and other vegetables. They never issue 

 forth till after dark, but now and then one will be found returning 

 to his lair in daylight. Dogs take up the scent of the porcupine very 

 keenly, and on the Neelgherries I have killed many by the aid of 

 dogs, tracking them to their dens. They charge backwards at their 

 foes, erecting their spines at the same time, and dogs generally get 

 seriously injured by their strong spines, which are sometimes driven 

 deeply into the assailant. The porcupine is not bad eating, the meat, 

 which is white, tasting something between pork and veal. 



