204 WILD NEIGHBORS CHAP. 



depressed at the pleasure of the animal, are gen- 

 tly curved backwards, and are either dusky with 

 the extremities white, or whitish throughout ; the 

 hinder portion of the body is entirely covered by 

 a great number of long sharp spines, ringed with 

 black and white, but always having the extremities 

 white. These spines vary considerably in size, 

 some of them being very long (fifteen or sixteen 

 inches), comparatively slender and flexible ; others 

 shorter (from six to twelve inches), but much 

 stouter. . . . The porcupine lives in holes among 

 the rocks, or in a burrow, which he makes for 

 himself in ordinary ground. In this retreat he 

 passes the day in sleep, coming forth in the even- 

 ing in search of food, which consists of herbage 

 of various kinds, fruits, roots, and the bark and 

 leaves of trees and bushes. He is slow in his 

 movements, and does not even display much ac- 

 tivity in burrowing. His habits are solitary, ex- 

 cept during the pairing-season ; and during the 

 winter he passes most of his time in his habitation, 

 without, however, falling into a torpid state. The 

 pairing takes place early in the year, . . . and in 

 the spring or early summer the female produces 

 from two to four young in a nest carefully lined 

 with leaves, grasses, roots, and other vegetables. 

 The young porcupines are born with their eyes 

 open, and their bodies are covered with short 

 soft spines, which are pressed close to the body. 

 These speedily harden and grow longer, and the 

 young do not appear to remain very long with 

 their mother. The flesh ... is eaten in the 

 countries where the animal occurs. When pur- 

 sued or irritated, he stands on the defensive, erects 

 his formidable quills and crest, stamps on the 



