Porcupine Ca mel. 2 1 7 



Blackboard Drawing: : Porcupine, 20 inches long: ; Flying- Squir- 

 rel, 15 inches long*. 



It is very active in searching for food, which consists of 

 roots, fruit and bark. It is remarkable for being covered 

 with sharp, strong quills, which it has the power of 

 straightening out in all directions, when attacked, thus 

 causing great damage to the mouth of any animal bold 

 enough to take hold of it. 



56. The CAMEL is the best fitted of all ani- 

 mals for traveling in desert places, because, 

 first, it can take a week's supply of water in 

 a peculiar arrangement of cells connected with 

 the stomach, which can be supplied from them 

 when the animal is thirsty ; secondly, it can live 

 on the scanty herbage of the desert; thirdly, 

 under each foot is a large cushion-shaped sub- 

 stance to prevent it from sinking in the sand. 



57. The camel has been called the "ship of the desert." 

 On the approach of a sand-storm in the desert, when 

 clouds of fine sand are whirled about by high winds, the 

 camel displays great sagacity in burying his nose in the 

 sand to avoid suffocation. Its flesh and milk are used for 



