THE PORCUPINE. 159 



" I s'pose it's all right what you're sayin', though this 

 child can't figure it out nohow/' 



" The porcupines, then," continued Pierre, "are a well- 

 defined family, and are designated Hystricidce by the 

 naturalists. They are distinguished by a singular 

 panoply of bristles with which nature has furnished 

 them in lieu of other defensive weapons. These re- 

 semble the spines of the ordinary hedgehog of the 

 British Islands. 



"There are several different varieties of this in- 

 teresting group ; such as the African porcupine ; the 

 porcupine proper (Hystrix cristatus), or the crested por- 

 cupine; the tuft-tailed porcupine (Atherura fasciculata); 

 and the Canada porcupine, with which we are more 

 immediately concerned. The latter, however, belongs 

 to the sub-family of the Erethisonince, while the tuft- 

 tail belongs to the Atherurince. The Canada porcu- 

 pine is characterized by a flattish skull, a short, close 

 muzzle, a tail of but moderate length, and to some ex- 

 tent prehensile, and with spines of about the same 

 length as the hair. This is the only species inhabiting 

 the Canadian provinces, and it is from this circum- 

 stance that it has derived its name. It is a sluggish 

 animal; but as it derives its sustenance principally 

 from the bark of trees, it climbs with great facility. 



" From its slowness, as well as from the fact that it 

 does not defend itself, like other animals, with its teeth 

 and claws, one would suppose it must fall an easy prey 

 to the lynx and other predatory beasts ; but this is not 



