Mammalia. 261 



Porcupines. The porcupines are distinguished by hav- 

 ing sharp spines, which are really modified hairs, and are 

 scattered among the longer hairs of the ordinary type so 

 that the spines are ordinarily not very conspicuous. The 

 spines are especially developed on the tail and on the pos- 

 terior parts of the body. When the porcupine is attacked 

 by an enemy, and especially if cornered, he turns his back 

 toward his pursuer and draws the skin of the body forward, 

 so that the quills point outward in all directions, and any 

 attempt to seize him is met by a quick side stroke of the 

 tail. The quills have a very sharp tip, near which are a 

 series of backward-projecting barbs. They are also very 

 loosely attached at the base. The result is that the quills 

 readily pierce the soft skin of an enemy, become detached 

 from the porcupine, and remain sticking in the wound. 

 These facts are the sole foundation of the once widely ac- 

 cepted belief that the porcupine has the power to shoot 

 his quills into his pursuer. In the West cattle often come 

 in contact with porcupines and have their legs and noses 

 stuck full of quills. On account of the backward-project- 

 ing barbs the quills cannot fall out, but keep working their 

 way in deeper and deeper, making bad festering sores. 

 On this account stockmen hate porcupines and usually 

 shoot them on sight. In the lumber regions of the North 

 porcupines also prove a nuisance, in another way, how- 

 ever. They gnaw into the handles of axes, oars, or any 

 wooden-handled implement, especially those that have been 

 used, apparently for the sake of the salt that comes from 

 perspiration. Hence tools are not left lying on the ground, 

 but axes are stuck into trees with the handles standing far 

 out, oars are laid up in bushes, etc. Porcupines are very 

 stupid, being so well protected by their spines that they 

 do not need to use their wits to escape an enemy. 



