146 THE MAMMALS OF SOMALILAND 



whirring noise, which is made by rapidly vibrating the hollow 

 quills at the end of the tail. On one occasion I found two adult 

 and two young porcupines enjoying a siesta under a shady bush 

 close to a large hole. On disturbing them they made for the 

 hole, when I wounded the female, who was the last to enter. 

 As they were near the surface I endeavoured to drag out the 

 female, who was the nearest, but before I succeeded in getting 

 her out, the male had eaten away nearly the whole of one of 

 her buttocks. I eventually succeeded in securing all four of 

 them. 



