36 SPINY ANIMALS. 



CHAPTER IV. 



SPINY ANIMALS. 



IN the preceding chapter it was shown how the adapta- 

 tion to the necessities of a particular mode of life has 

 produced a marked general external resemblance in certain 

 burrowing mammals belonging to several more or less 

 completely distinct groups. We now propose to point 

 out the resemblances existing between certain other 

 members of the same class of animals, owing to the 

 assumption of a protective coat of spines. Although 

 this resemblance is in some instances not so striking as 

 among the creatures noticed in that chapler, yet it is 

 quite sufficient to have obscured in popular estimation 

 the real affinities of some of the spine-bearing mammals, 

 as it is by no means uncommon to hear the hedgehog 

 spoken of as the " British porcupine," while certain 

 -Madagascar spiny mammals are frequently alluded to as 

 hedgehogs, and the Australian echidna is commonly 

 alluded to as a porcupine. Moreover, the names " sea- 

 urchins " and " sea-hedgehogs," applied to animals 

 belonging to totally different classes, shows the important 

 estimation held by spines in popular zoology. It is almost 

 superfluous to add that the acquisition of the coat of spines 

 in all the mammals here alluded to is solely for the pur- 

 yjose of protection : and how sufficient is this protection in 

 most cases, is evident to all who have seen how the 

 hedgehog, when rolled up, sets most dogs at defiance. 

 Still, however, this panoply is by no means invariably 

 proof against all attacks, as it appears to be well ascer- 

 tained that leopards and pumas will kill and eat porcupines 

 without the slightest hesitation, and with a total disregard 

 of their formidable spines, which may be found sticking in 

 all parts of the bodies of the devourers. As we found to be 

 the case with the mole-like mammals, all the spiny 

 mammals belong to the lower orders of the class, their 



