THE COENDOU. 365 



The female goes with young about seven months, and pro- 

 duces one or two at a birth, which she suckles for a month. 



The flesh of the porcupine is often eaten by the inhabitants 

 of the Cape of Good Hope, and used to be sold in the markets 

 at Rome. The quills are used to make anglers' floats, and other 

 trifling articles. 



THE COENDOU, OR PREHENSILE-TAILED PORCUPINE. 

 (Synetheres prehensilis, F. Cuv. ; Hystrix prehensilis, Linn.) 



The coendou inhabits the woods of Brazil, and, according to 

 some authors, Mexico also ; but Dr. Lund says both the present 

 species and S. insidosa, which is only half as large, are " peculiar 

 to South America." 



The coendou is about two feet and a half in length. Its 

 hair is of a brownish-black ; its spines, or quills, black and 

 white, very sharp, and strong, and none more than three inches 

 long. Its head is vaulted in front) the muzzle short and 

 thick -, the feet have four toes, all armed with claws 5 the tail 

 is long, naked at the tip, and being prehensile it assists the 

 animal in climbing trees, 



In the Catalogue of Bullock's Museum (1813, p. 132), the food 

 of two living specimens kept for some time in London, is stated 

 to have been entirely of a vegetal nature, and their manners 

 were mild and inoffensive -, their voice a weak, tremulous cry, 

 somewhat like a young pig's, but not so shrill or loud. 



