402 VERTEBKATA. 



with spines; the feet are plantigrade; the mammae are pectoral, and four in number. The nest 

 is made in hollow trees, or in caverns beneath the rocks. The young are produced in April or 

 May, usually two at a time. 



This animal is extremely sluggish in its movements, and often will not take the trouble to run 

 away from dog or man, being, in this respect, very much like the skunk. As the latter relies on 

 his Liquid shaft, addressed to the nose, the former seems to put his trust in his thousand barbed 

 arrows, which threaten the flesh. Of the two, the porcupine has the advantage, for when at- 

 tacked by a dog, wolf, cougar, or other ferocious beast, it presses its nose downward, erects its 

 quills, and brandishing its tail, stands ready for the onslaught. If the assailant is inexperienced, 

 and unwarily seizes the hostile party with its mouth, he instantly retreats, with a howl of pain 

 and dismay, for his nose, lips, jaws, and tongue are stuck full of the barbs of the porcupine. 

 Unless some one extracts them, they w r ork deeper and deeper, and often result in the death of the 

 Bufferer. Lynxes, wolves, and cougars have been found dead, or dying in the woods, from the 

 effect of porcupine quills thus inserted in the fleshy parts of the mouth. The Indians of the 

 North are said to have a deadly hatred of the porcupine, on account of the mischief it inflicts in 

 this way <»n their doo;s. 



Richardson, in describing this animal, says: "It is readily attacked by the Indian dogs, and 

 soon killed, but not without injury to its assailants, for its quills, which it erects when attacked, 

 are rough with minute teeth directed backward, that have the effect of rendering this seemingly 

 weak and flexible weapon a very dangerous one. Their points, wdiich are pretty sharp, have no 

 sooner insinuated themselves into the skin of an assailant, than they gradually bury themselves, 

 and travel onward until they cause death by wounding some vital organ. These spines, which 

 arc detached from the porcupine by the slightest touch, and probably by the will of the animal, 

 Boon All the mouths of the dogs which worry it, and unless the Indian women carefully pick them 

 out, seldom fail to kill them. Wolves occasionally die from the same cause. The Canada porcu- 

 pine makes its retreat among the roots of an old tree, and is said to pass much of its time in 

 sleeping. When disturbed, it makes a whining or mewing noise. It pairs in the latter end of 

 September, and brings forth two young ones in April or May. Its flesh, which tastes like flabby 

 pork, is relished by the Indians, but is soon nauseated by Europeans. The bones are often deeply 

 tinged with a greenish-yellow color. Like other animals which feed on coarse vegetable sub- 

 stances, it is much infested by intestinal worms. The quills or spines are dyed of various bright 

 colors by the native women, and worked into shot-pouches, belts, shoes, and other ornamental 

 articles of dress." 



The Canada porcupine feeds on vegetables of various kinds, especially the bark and leaves of 

 trees, preferring the birch, elm, bass, cotton-wood, hemlock, willow, larch, and various kinds of 

 fir. It easily climbs trees, and when once it has begun to feed on a tree, it usually does not leave 

 it, except at night to sleep in its bed, till it has stripped it from top to bottom. It is said that a 

 single porcupine will thus denude a hundred trees in a season. Sometimes considerable patches 

 of forest are found dead as if scorched by fire, having been gnawed bare by the porcupine. This 

 animal is also fond of sweet apples and young Indian corn. In feeding, it sits on its haunch'-. 

 and brings its food to its mouth with the fore-paws. It is capable of being domesticated, in 

 which state it eats cabbages, turnips, potatoes, and even bread. It utters a growl when offende<l, 

 and at night i< heard to break out in low, querulous shrieks. It shows no attachment, and little 

 intelligence, but is a mild, inoffensive creature, always supporting an air of surly indifference, 

 with a tinge of stupid, awkward self-importance. Its greatest desire seems to be, to be let alone. 



This animal is found in the Canadas, and north as far as latitude 67°. In some places it is 

 still abundant, but is everywhere becoming more and more rare. It was once common in the 

 northern parts of New York and ( >hio, but is now scarce in those parts. It is not found south 

 of these localities. In the Northwestern States it is frequently met with. 4 



Genus SPHIGGTJRE: Sphiggurus. — Of this genus there are several species, all of which are 

 climbers, with a prehensile tail partly naked. They are covered with short, sharp spines, con- 

 cealed by the hair, on which account they are denominated Hystrix insidiosa. If handled with- 

 out caution, they inflict severe wounds. The most noted species is the Couiy, S. insidiosus,' 



