10 IRIDESCENT PORCUPINE. 



that of a hare : the feet, according to Seba, are 

 all furnished with five toes, of which the exterior 

 is shortest : the claws are thick and strong : the 

 tail is very long, and covered with short spiny 

 hair, like that on the body, except at the extre- 

 mity, which is tufted with a thick brush of quills 

 of an extraordinary form, consisting each of a 

 long slender stem, swelling out at intervals into 

 knots resembling grains of rice, and tipped with 

 a similar knot : this tufted extremity of the tail is 

 of a silvery white colour, and the quills which 

 compose it are of different lengths. It inhabits the 

 islands of the Indian Archipelago, and resides in 

 woods. It appears to have been first described 

 by Seba, whose elegant figure has been generally 

 copied by succeeding writers. If we except the 

 gilded or Cape Mole, it seems to be almost the 

 only quadruped yet known with changeable-co- 

 loured hair. Seba informs us that his figure of 

 this animal was taken from a very fine and per- 

 fect specimen in the Museum of Mr. Vincent of 

 Harlem, he having only a specimen of the tail in 

 his own collection. He adds, that the species is 

 mentioned by Bontius ; and that others of good 

 credit affirm that they have seen it in the Indian 

 islands; and that in its gall-bladder is found a 

 calculus which is esteemed equal in virtue to- 

 that of the Malacca Porcupine (Malacca Hedge- 

 hog), and is called by the Portuguese, Piedra de 

 uerco.. 



