452 SOUTHERN EUROPE 



The fact that a few old ones drop out when it bristles them up has led to the 



legend that they are shot at the foe. Porcupines live principally on roots, and 



for vegetable-eaters have singularly strong teeth and jaws ; another noteworthy 



feature is the convexity of the skull in which the nose-chamber is larger than the 



brain-case. In habits the porcupine is nocturnal, living in rocky places or in 



burrows of its own making; and at pairing-time it makes its nest, a mere collection 



of leaves, grass, and rootlets, on which are born the young whose flexible spines 



harden when exposed to the air. In colour this porcupine is black and white, 



though the bristly crest is brown at the base ; it is one of the largest of rodents, 



the body alone frequently measuring 28 inches. 



Among the cat tribe, the southern lynx (Felis pardina), inhabit- 

 Southern Lynx. . . ° ' . J _ } r " 



ing Spam, Sicily, Sardinia, Greece, and lurkey, deserves special 



mention, since it is restricted to southern Europe and does not even extend to North 



Africa. It is one of the handsomest of its kind, being distinctly spotted all the 



year round. The ground-colour of the fur is reddish yellow above, with round 



black spots not only on the body but on the limbs and tail as well. 



In the south of France, Italy, Dalmatia, Greece, and parts of 

 Savis Mole. . e * . 



Switzerland the place of the common mole is taken by the nearly 



related Savi's mole (Talpa cceca), so called on account of its eyes being covered 

 with a delicate transparent membrane so as to be invisible. In its habits and 

 peculiarities this mole greatly resembles the common species, from which it differs 

 by boring tunnels of less extent and nearer to the surface, and also by the circum- 

 stance that the nest for its young, unlike that of the common mole, is not situated 

 in its abode, but some distance away. 



Pyrenean One species of desman has been already noticed under the 



Desman. heading of Eastern Europe ; the second or Pyrenean species (Myogale 



pyrenaica), frequents both slopes of the Pyrenees. It is only half as large as the 



Russian species, from which it is distinguished by the tail being round instead of 



laterally compressed. 



, m Of the birds of southern Europe a large number are common tc 



Rock-Thrush. r ° 



other parts of the Continent, so that many or them have been 

 mentioned in the earlier chapters of this work. A few are, however, more or less 

 decidedly characteristic of the area under consideration, and therefore demand 

 special notice in this place. Among these is the rock-thrush (Monticola saxatilis), 

 a well-known species frequenting mountain-cliffs and rock-faces with a southern 

 aspect, and avoiding wooded districts. The nest is built in rocky crevices or 

 between stones, and in May contains four or five, rarely six, blue eggs. The cock 

 disports himself in the vicinity of the nest, singing loudly during a graceful flight, 

 which ends on the perch whence it began. The song, which is melodious and rich 

 in changes, is continued till well into the summer. Besides berries, worms, and 

 small snails, the rock -thrush feeds on flying insects which it skilfully catches on 

 the wing. About 8 inches in length, this bird is noticeable for the shortness of its 

 tail, which, with the exception of the dark brown middle feathers, is chestnut; 

 the general colour of the upper-parts is bluish grey, but the wings are dark 

 brown. The females and young are brown above with whitish throat and under- 

 pays. The range of the rock-thrush extends through the south of Europe into 



