57* 



THE PORCUPINE. 



approximates closely to the quill-hairs of the true porcupines, being either flat and 

 grooved above, or developed into flexile spines. The tail is but sparely covered with 

 hair, and is rather short in proportion to the size of its owner. The hinder feet are only 

 furnished with four toes, armed with large, rounded, and rather blunt claws. The ears 

 are short and rounded. 



The PORCUPINE has long been rendered famous among men by the extraordinary 

 armory of pointed spears which it bears upon its back, and which it was formerly 

 fabled to launch at its foes with fatal precision. 



This animal inhabits many parts of the world, being found in Africa, Southern 

 Europe, and India. The spines, or quills, with which it is furnished, vary considera- 

 bly in length, the longest quills being flexible, and not capable of doing much harm 

 to an opponent. Beneath these is a plentiful supply of shorter spines, from five to ten 

 inches in length, which are the really effective weapons of this imposing array. Their 

 hold on the skin is very slight, so that when they have been struck into a foe, they 

 remain fixed in the wound, and, unless immediately removed, work sad woe to the 

 sufferer. For the quill is so constructed, that it gradually bores its way into the flesh, 

 burrowing deeper at every movement, and sometimes even causing the death of the 

 wounded creature. In Africa and India, leopards and tigers have frequently been 

 killed in whose flesh were pieces of Porcupine quills that had penetrated deeply into 

 the body, and had even caused suppuration to take place. In one instance, a tiger 

 was found to have his paws, ears, and head filled with the spines of a Porcupine, 

 which he had vainly been endeavoring to kill. 



Conscious of its powers, the Porcupine is not at all an aggressive animal, and sel- 

 dom, if ever, makes an unprovoked attack. But if irritated or wounded, it becomes at 

 once a very unpleasant antagonist, as it spreads out its bristles widely, and rapidly 

 backs upon its opponent. There are few horses which will face an irritated Porcu- 

 pine ; and even the preliminary rustle of the quills with which a Porcupine generally 

 prepares every attack, is sufficient to make an ordinary horse flee in terror. The rustling 

 sound is produced by a number of hollow quills which grow upon the Porcupine's tail, 

 and which, when that member is agitated, clash against each other with a sound very 

 like the peculiar ruffling of a peacock's train. 



The Porcupine is a nocturnal animal, seldom venturing out of its retreat as long as 

 the sun is above the horizon, and is therefore not often seen even in the localities 

 which it most prefers. It is said not to require the presence of water, but to quench 

 its thirst by eating the succulent roots and plants which it digs out of the ground. 

 Its food is entirely of a vegetable nature, and consists of various kinds of herbage, as 

 well as of bark, fruit, and roots. This animal takes up its abode in deep burrows 

 which it excavates, and in which it is supposed to undergo a partial hibernation. 



As the spines of the Porcupines are of some commercial value, and are used 

 for many purposes, the chase of the animal is rather popular in the countries 

 which it inhabits, and derives a further interest from the fact that the Porcupine, 

 although a timid creature, can make a very powerful resistance when it is driven to 

 despair. In fighting, it depends wholly on its quills, and does not attempt to make the 

 least use of its strong and sharp incisor teeth, which are able to cut their way through 

 the hardest wood as if it were butter, and would inflict most dangerous wounds. So 

 far, indeed, is it from making any use of these formidable weapons, that its first care 

 is to protect its head, being probably led to that course of action by its fear for its 

 nose, which is so sensitive that the animal is stunned by a comparatively slight blow 

 on that organ. 



It does not appear to be very susceptible of domestication, probably because it cannot 

 find teachers who are sufficiently fearless of its quills to pay very close attention to it. 

 With the exception of the hollow quills in the tail, the spines are encircled with alternate 

 rings of black and white, producing a very rich contrast of coloring. The upper parts 

 of the body are covered with hair instead of quills, and upon the head and neck there 

 is a kind of crest, composed of very long stiff hairs, which can be erected or depressed 

 at pleasure. Like the hedgehog it can coil itself into a ball when it is surprised at a 



