THE PORCUPINE. 209 



Providence has onlaine.i that the white bear, although 

 placed in the icy soi-itudos of the polar regions, should 

 yield its tribute oi' utility to human industry and en- 

 terprise. 



They feed on fish, seals, and the carcases of whales. 

 They sometimes attack the morse, with which they 

 have terrible ^conilic:*, but the large teeth of that 

 animal give it so great an advantage, that the bear is 

 often worsted. 



THE PORCUPINE, 



formidable in appearance, is, in disposition, perfectly 

 inoffensive; it lives on fruits, roots, and different 

 kinds of vegetables; sleeps in the day, and feeds in 

 the night. 



Some naturalists have asserted, that the porcupine 

 discharges its quills against its assailants; but this 

 opinion is now universally known to be erroneous. 

 Although this animal does not possess, in regard to 

 offensive war, the extraordinary advantages which 

 error has supposed, it is suiliciently armed to resist 

 the attacks of animals much stronger than itself. 

 When irritated or alarmed, it raises its quills, which 

 form an effectual safeguard to its bo< T ly, so that few 

 animals are capable of injuring if. The largest of its* 

 quills are from ten to fifteen inches in length, thickish 

 in the middle, and extremely sharp at the point. 

 Between the quills there grows a kind of thin, black, 

 and bristly hair. The tail is covered with short quiils, 

 white and transparent. , 



A porci'.pine was for some time kept by the late Sir 

 Ashtun Lever, which he frequently turned out on the 

 grass behind his house, to play with a tame hunting 

 leopard and a Newfoundland dog. These animals 

 always began to pursue the porcupine, as soon as 

 they were set at liberty ; but when the object of their 

 pursuit found it impossible to escape by flight, he 

 cunningly thrust his head into some corner, and 

 erected his quills, with which his enemies pricked 

 their noses, till at length they quarrelled between 

 themselves, and thus afforded him- an opportunity of 

 escaping. 



