484 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS 



an opinion of its power to use them in a more 

 effectual manner. 



The largest of the quills are from ten to fifteen 

 inches in length, thick in the middle, and extremely 

 sharp at the end: between the quills, the hair is 

 thin, black, and bristly: the tail is covered with 

 w T hite quills, which are short and transparent : its 

 legs are short; it has four toes before, and five 

 behind. 



The Porcupine is found in India, Persia, and 

 Palestine: it is likewise common in all parts of 

 Africa. The Indians hunt it for its quills, of which 

 they make a kind of embroidery: they also eat its 

 flesh. 



There are Porcupines in a wild state in Spain 

 and Italy, though they are not originally natives of 

 any part of Europe. Their flesh is sometimes ex- 

 posed in the markets at Rome, \vhere it is eaten. 



The Italian Porcupines have shorter quills and a 

 shorter crest than those of Asia or Africa. 



The Porcupine is an inoffensive animal ; lives on 

 fruits, roots, and vegetables; sleeps during the day, 

 and feeds by night. 



The female goes with young seven months, and 

 brings forth one at a time. The drawing of this 

 animal was made from the life. 



