160 THE PORCUPINE. 



the case. The eminent naturalist Audubon relates that 

 he found a lynx in a dying condition in the woods, its 

 lips and mouth being filled with the spines which had 

 detached themselves from the porcupine in the encoun- 

 ter, and which had gradually worked their way deep 

 into its assailant's flesh. 



" Even the ' painter ' has been found in similar plight 

 after a fight with this apparently insignificant creature. 

 The quills have but a slight hold on the skin ; and it 

 is possible that, independently of the effect of the en- 

 counter, the porcupine is gifted with the faculty of 

 detaching them when they have slightly punctured 

 its assailant. 



" These minute spears produce an inflamed wound ; 

 and being barbed, they continue to penetrate deeper 

 and deeper into the flesh ; which operation is facilitated 

 by the movements of whatever animal has been un- 

 lucky enough to receive them. 



" The porcupine is very destructive to trees, frequently 

 killing all the trees in a grove, by eating off the bark 

 all round the stem. An individual has been known to 

 remain on one tree for many days, until he had almost 

 completely denuded it of its bark. When the hunter, 

 therefore, passes by one of these animals seated aloft 

 amid the branches, he may leave it unmolested, with 

 the certainty of subsequently finding it still engaged 

 with the same tree. 



" The porcupine sometimes gives vent to a peculiar 

 cry, somewhat resembling that of a young child. In 



