% COMMON PORCUPINE. 



and disposition of the teeth, the Porcupine and the 

 Hedgehog might be placed together ; but such is 

 the dissimilarity of these organs, that the one 

 must of necessity belong to the Linnaean order 

 Ferae, and the other to that of Glires. 



The singular appearance of the Porcupine, so 

 different from that of the generality of quadru- 

 peds, must in the earliest ages have attracted the 

 attention even of the most incurious ; the variegated 

 spines or quills with which it is covered naturally 

 suggesting the idea of a fierce and formidable ani- 

 mal : it is, however, of a harmless nature, and the 

 quills are merely defensive weapons, which, when 

 disturbed or attacked, the animal erects, and thus 

 endeavours to repel his adversary. 



The general length of the Porcupine is about 

 two feet from head to tail, and that of the tail 

 about four inches. The upper parts of the animal 

 are covered with long, hard, and sharp quills ; 

 those towards the middle and hind part of the 

 body being longer than the rest, and measuring 

 from nine or ten to twelve or fifteen inches in 

 length : they are very sharp-pointed, and are va- 

 riegated with several alternate black and white 

 rings : the root, or point of attachment, is small : 

 the head, belly, and legs, are covered with strong- 

 dusky bristles, intermixed with softer hairs : on 

 the top of the head the hairs are very long, and 

 curved backwards in the manner of a ruff or 

 crest: the ears are short and rounded: the nose 

 blunt ; the upper lip divided by a strongly-marked 

 furrow ; the two fore teeth, both above and below, 



