Feb., 1912. Mammals of Illinois and Wisconsin — Cory. 253 



Napaeozapus insignis (Miller). Woodland Jumping Mouse. As 

 has been previously stated, the Woodland Jumping Mouse may be 

 looked for in northern Wisconsin, for, although it has not as yet been 

 found within our limits, it has been taken in northwestern Michigan.* 

 The white tipped tail and absence of the small upper premolar will 

 distinguish it from Z. hudsonius. 



Family ERETHIZONTID^. American 

 Porcupines. 



The American Porcupines are short legged, slow-moving animals, 

 with a thick body covering of hair mixed with quills or spines. They 

 differ from the Old World Porcupines in having perfect clavicles; the 

 skull somewhat different shaped; tuberculate soles of feet; absence 

 of a pollex, etc.; and the quills are also much smaller. They are large- 

 ly arboreal in habits. The quills or spines are loosely attached and 

 fall out easily, but the animal is not able to forcibly eject them, and 

 the legend of the Porcupine "shooting" its quills is, of course, absurd. f 

 Five species and subspecies belonging to a single genus (Erethizon) 

 axe recognized in North America. Other genera belonging to this 

 family occur in Central and South America, and have long prehensile 

 tails. 



* Porcupine Mountains — Adams, Rept. State Board Geol. Surv. Mich,, 1905 

 (1906), p. 129. 



t This fable is of ancient origin, being mentioned by Solinus, Paulus Venetus 

 and others in their accounts of the Old World Porcupine and gravely endorsed by 

 Topsell and other subsequent compilers, Edward Topsell says, "When they are 

 hunted the beast stretcheth his skin, and casteth the off, one or two at a time, 

 according to necessity upon the mouths of the Dogs, or Legs of the Hunters that 

 follow her, with such violence that many times they stick into trees" (Historic of 

 Foure Footed Beastes, 1607, p. 588). 



We can readily understand how early explorers in America would credit the 

 American Porcupine with equal ability and thus have planted the seeds from which 

 has grown a similar superstition regarding our species. Josselyn did not hesitate 

 in doing so, describing our species as "a very Angry Creature, and dangerous, shoot- 

 ting a whole shower of Quills with a rowfe at their enemies." (New England Rarities, 

 1672, p. 17.) 



