MAMMALIA — PORCUPINE. 251 



resembling the barrel of a goosequill in thickness, but tapering at both 

 ends, and variegated with black and white rings. In their usual state, they 

 incline backward, like the bristles of a hog, but when the animal is irritated, 

 they rise and stand upright. 



Travellers and naturalists have almost unanimously declared, that this 

 animal has the faculty of discharging its quills, and wounding its foes at an 

 immense distance ; that these quills have the extraordinary and particular 

 property of penetrating farther into the flesh, of their own accord, as soon as 

 ever the point has made an entrance through the skin. These stories, 

 however, are all purely imaginary, and without the smallest foundation or 

 reason. The error seems to have arisen either from this animal raising its 

 prickles upright, when he is irritated; and, as there are some of them 

 which are only inserted into the skin by a small pellicle, they easily fall 

 oiT; or from his sometimes shaking off his quills to a considerable distance 

 when he is shedding them. We have seen many porcupines, but have never 

 observed them dart any of their quills from them, although they were vi- 

 olently agitated. We cannot, then, avoid being greatly astonished, that the 

 greatest authors, both modern and ancient, as well as the most sensible 

 travellers, have joined in believing a circumstance so entirely false. In 

 justice, however, to Dr Shaw, we must except him from the number of 

 these credulous travellers : " Of all the number of porcupines," says he, 

 " which I have seen in Africa, I have never yet met with one which darts 

 its quills, however strongly it was irritated. Their common method of 

 defence is to lie on one side, and when the enemy approaches very near, to 

 rise suddenly, and wound him with the points of the other." It appears, 

 however, that there is a pernicious quality in the quills ; which renders it 

 difficult to cure the wounds inflicted by them. 



The porcupine, although a native of the hottest climates of Africa and 

 India, lives and multiplies in colder countries, such as Persia, Spain, and 

 Italy. Agricola says, that the species were not transported into Europe 

 before the last century. They are found in Spain, but more commonly 

 in Italy, especially on the Apennine mountains, and in the environs of 

 E,ome. 



In its wild state, the porcupine is a perfectly inoffensive animal. It never 

 attacks, and will elude an aggressor when it can ; but if compelled to de- 

 fend itself, it forces even the lion to retire. In its domestic state, it is 

 neither furious nor vicious ; it is only anxious for its liberty ; and, with the 

 assistance of its fore teeth, which are sharp and strong, like those of the 

 beaver, it easily cuts through a wooden prison. It is also known, that it 

 feeds willingly on fruits, chesnuts, and crumbs of bread ; that, in its wild 

 state, it lives upon roots and wild grain ; that, when it can enter a garden, 

 it makes great havoc, eating the herbs, roots, fruit,. &c. It becomes fat, 

 like most other animals, towards the end of summer ; audits flesh, although 

 insipid, is tolerable eating. 



