THE HEDGE- HOG KIND. 109 



THE PORCUPINE 



IS about two feet long, and fifteen inches high ; covered with quills, 

 from ten to fourteen inches long, refennbling a goofe-quill in thick-" 

 nefs, but tapering and {harp, thickeft in the middle, and inferted like 

 feathers into birds; within fpongy, like the top of a goofe-quill j white 

 and black alternately from end to end ; fome fifteen inches long, and a 

 quarter of an inch in diameter ; harder than common quills, difficult to 

 be cut, and folid at the point : others long, flexible, and flender, grow 

 here and there among the former ; fome near the tail are white and 

 tranfparent. Thefe quills incline backward, like the briftles of a hog ; 

 when the animal is irritated, they ftand upright, like bridles. 



The muzzle fomewhat refembles a hare, but is black ; the legs very 

 fhort, each foot has five toes ; the belly, head, and body, are covered 

 with (hort hair, like prickles, except the ears and the fole of the foot j 

 the ears are thinly covered with very fine hair, in fhape are like the 

 human; the eyes fmall, only one-third of an inch in length. When 

 fkinned, there appear a kind of paps where the large quills grew, the 

 fize of a fmall pea, anfwering to as many holes on the furface of the 

 (kin, which are about half an inch deep, wherein the quills are fixed. 

 This formidable armour is entirely defenfive j the quills never quit 

 the fkin, except when the animal moults them, as birds do their 

 feathers. Their ufual manner of defence is to lie on one fide, and 

 when the enemy approaches very near, by fuddenly rifing, to wound 

 him with the points on the other, always directing their quills to 

 the enemy : thus am.ply protedted, even the lion fears to attack the 

 porcupine. Hunts ferpents and reptiles. Travellers afljjre us that, be- 

 tween the ferpent and the porcopine, exifts irreconcileable enmity, and 

 that they never meet without mortal engagement. The porcupine is 

 faid to roll itfelf on the ferpent. 



Thofe brought to this country are ufually fed on bread, milk, fruits, 

 and meat. The porcupine is extremely hurtful to gardens, and does 

 incredible damage. Lives from twelve to fifteen years ; couples in 

 September ; the males become very fierce, and often dettroy each other 

 with their teeth. The female goes with young feven months, brings 

 forth one, fuckles it about a month, accuftoms it betimes to vegetables 

 and the bark of trees ; fhe is very fierce in its defence i at other feafons. 

 No. 23. U is 



