126 



THE TANEEC, AND TENDIiAC. 



These little animals are both natives of the East In- 

 dies, and covered with prickles like the one we have 

 just described. The tanrec in size resembles the mole ; 

 but the tendrac is still less, and has prickles only upon 

 its head and shoulders, the rest of the body being co- 

 vered with thick coarse hair not unlike the bristles of 

 a hog. 



Neither of these quadrupeds avoid the attack of their 

 enemies by rolling themselves up in round balls ; they 

 are very fond of being near the water, and spend more 

 time in that element than they do upon tlie land : they 

 multiply in very great numbers, make themselves holes 

 in the ground, and sleep in them for several months at 

 a time : their flesh is soft, fat, and stringy ; yet the 

 Indians consider it as a delicious kind of food. 



THE PORCUPINE. 



Those arms which the hedge-hog possesses in mini- 

 ature, the porcupine has in a more enlarged degree : 

 for, though the prickles of the former are not more 

 than 1 an inch, those of the latter are extended to the 

 length of two feet. 



Although this animal is a native of the hottest cli- 

 mates of Africa and India, yet it will both live and mul- 

 tiply where the heat is less intense ; for in Persia, Spain, 

 and Italy they are frequently found. This singular 

 creature is about two feet long, and between fifteen 

 and sixteen inches in height ; the legs are very short, 

 the eyes small, and the muzzle resembling that of a 

 hare; the quills are about the thickness of those which 

 are taken from the goose, but sharp and tapering at 

 both their ends, and capable of inflicting a mortal 



