ANIMALS WITH ARMOUR 101 



pounds. The long, powerful claws and large but only partly 

 prehensile tail are also worthy of mention. 



When in a normal condition the quills lie flat over the surface 

 of the body, but when the animal stands at attention these are 

 raised "by the aid of a sheet of muscle underlying the skin." 

 These quills are only loosely inserted in the skin of the Porcupine, 

 and can thus be easily detached. 



This is the most northern form of Porcupine found in Canada, 

 its range extending as far north as trees are found, whilst in the 

 United States it is resident in the East, "as far south as Virginia, 

 and on the Western Coast from Alaska to Arizona and New 

 Mexico." 



In spite of its heaviness and only partly prehensile tail, this 

 species is a first-rate climber, and most of its time is spent in the 

 tree-tops. It is largely nocturnal in its habits, but may also be 

 observed during the daytime. Having become comfortably located 

 in a tree and hunger requiring appeasement, the Urson makes 

 short work of the surrounding foliage, stripping the tree of its 

 leaves, and leaving the same quite bare. Succulent twigs as well 

 as leaves are eaten, and the amount of harm perpetrated when the 

 beast is thus engaged may well be imagined. It is astonishing 

 to notice how so cumbersome a creature contrives to not only spend 

 its time disporting among the tree-tops, but to reach with ease the 

 leaves on the outside branches. One would have thought that the 

 weight and general bulky build would have made this impossible, 

 but this arboreal wanderer is no fool, for, by clever strategy, he 

 manages to distribute his weight "by bringing several branches 

 together, and then, with his powerful paws, bends back their ends 

 and passes them through his mouth. When high in the tree-tops 

 he is often passed unnoticed, mistaken, if seen at all, for the nest 

 of a Crow or a Hawk." Beechmast, as well as the leaves, twigs 

 and bark of trees are partaken of, whilst it is stated that the creature 

 has a partiality for salt and is also fond of the pods of water-lilies. 



The lair of this interesting American animal may be come across 

 in a hollow tree, in bushes, or among the clefts of rocks. It is here 

 that the nest is constructed and the one or two young ones pro- 

 duced during early Summer. Dr. Merriam, who studied these 

 animals closely, states that the young are very large for the size 

 of the beast, "being actually larger, and proportionately more than 

 thirty times the size of the cubs of the Black Bear." 



