MAMMALIA— PORCUPINE. 253 



THE URSON, OR CANADA PORCUPINE. i 



This animal, placed by nature in the desert part of North America, to 

 the east of Hudson's Bay, exists independent of, and far distant from, man. 

 The urson might be called the spimj beaver, it being of the same size, the 

 same country, and the same form of body ; it has, like that, tv/o long, strong, 

 and sharp incisive teeth at the end of each jaw ; its prickles are short, and 

 almost covered with hair ; for the urson, like the beaver, has a double coat ; 

 the first consists of long and soft hair, and the second, of a down, or felt, 

 Avhich is still softer or smoother. In the young ursons, the prickles are 

 proportionably larger, more apparent, and the hair shorter and scarcer than 

 in the adults. 



This animal dislikes water, and is fearful of wetting himself. He makes 

 his habitation under the roots of great hollow trees, sleeps very much, and 

 chiefly feeds upon the bark of juniper. In winter, the snow serves him for 

 drink ; in summer, he laps water like a dog. The savages eat his flesh, and 

 strip the bristles off the hide, which they make use of instead of pins and 

 needles. Many of the trading Americans, also, depend upon them for food 

 at certain seasons of the year. 



The following observations are from Dr Godman : "In the remote and 

 unsettled parts of Pennsylvania, the porcupine is still occasionally foimd ; 

 but south of this state, it is almost unknown. According to Catesby, it 

 never was found in that direction beyond Virginia, where it was quite rare. 

 In the Hudson's Bay country, Canada, and New England, as well as in 

 some parts of the western states, and throughout the country lying between 

 the Rocky Mountains and the great western rivers, they are found in great 

 abundance, and are highly prized by the aboriginals, both for the sake of 

 their flesh and their quills, which are extensively employed as ornaments to 

 their dresses, pipes, weapons, &c. 



"The patience and ingenuity displayed by the Indian Avomen, in orna- 

 menting dresses, buffalo robes, moccasins, &c., can scarcely be appreciated 

 by those who have never seen any of the articles thus adorned. We have 

 already mentioned that these quills rarely exceed two inches and a half, or, 

 utmost, three inches in length; and are not larger in circumference than 

 a moderate sized wheat straw. Yet we find large surfaces Avorked or 

 embroidered in the neatest and most beautiful manner with these quills, 

 Avhich are dyed of various rich and permanent colors. In making this 

 embroidery, they have not the advantage of a needle, but use a straight awl. 

 Some of their work is done by passing the sinew of a deer, or other animal 

 through a hole made with the awl, and at every stitch wrapping this thread 

 with one or more turns of a porcupine quill. When they wind the quill 



' Hystrix dorsata, Desm. 



