PORCUPINES. 87 



It is sold in the pouch in which it is naturally formed. A Castor 

 furnishes about two ounces. The women of some savage tribes 

 use it to grease their hair, and in Europe, and the United States, 

 it is employed as a medicine. About three thousand pounds are 

 annually imported into France.] 



Tribe of Porcupines. 



55. Animals of the tribe of Porcupines are recognised at first 

 sight by the stiff and pointed quills or spines with which their back 

 is armed, and from this peculiarity they somewhat resemble the 

 Hedgehogs. Their grunting voice and thick truncated muzzle 

 have caused them to be compared to the hog, and hence their 

 French name, Pores-Epics. 



56. PORCUPINES PROPER, Hystrix, have an arched or more 

 or less convex head. They have four toes before and five be- 

 hind, all armed with stout nails. There are many species known. 

 The European Porcupine, Hystrix Cristata, has very long 

 spines annulated black and white; a mane composed of long 

 hairs occupies the head and back of the neck. The tail is short, and 

 furnished with hollow truncated tubes or bristles, suspended to 

 slender tubercles, which make a noise when shaken by the animal. 



57. This animal avoids inhabited places, and selects for its re- 

 treat stony arid hillocks with a southern or southeastern exposure, 

 in the declivities of which, it excavates deep holes with many out- 

 lets, where it lives in profound solitude and great security. It 

 passes the day concealed at the bottom of its burrow, and pro- 

 vides for its wants during the night only. Its chief food consists 

 of berries, fruits, buds, roots, &c. For the Porcupine winter is 

 a time of sleep ; but its lethargy does not seem to be very pro- 

 found, because it makes its appearance on the first bright days of 

 spring. 



58. It was believed for a long time that porcupines had the 

 faculty of discharging or shooting off their spines ; but it is ascer- 

 tained that they are at times accidentally detached, and also by the 

 shock they receive when the animal raises them for its own defence. 



59. This species is chiefly met with in the kingdom of Naples 

 and the southern parts of the Roman States. 



55. What is the most striking- feature of the Porcupine ? 



56. What are the characteristics of the Porcupines proper? What are the 

 specific characters of the European Porcupine ? 



57. Whut are the habits of the Porcupine ? Upon what does it generally 

 feed? 



58. Has the Porcupine the power of throwing its quills or spines from its 

 body? 



59. In what part of the world is the Porcupine found ? 



8* 



