MAMMALIA—PORCUPINE. 253 
THE URSON, OR CANADA’ PORCUPINE. 
TuIs animal, placed by nature in the desers 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 spiny beaver, it being of the same size, the 
same country, and the same form of body; it has, like that, two 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, er felt, 
which 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 
nis 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 adog. 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 found; 
but sonth 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 m 
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 women, 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 inehes and a half, or, 
at most, three inches in length; and are not larger in circumference than 
a moderate sized wheat straw. Yet we find large surfaces worked or 
embroidered in the neatest and most beautiful manner with these quills, 
which are dyed of various rich and permanent colors. In making this 
embroidery, they have not the advantage of a needle, but ase 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 poreupine quill. When they wind the quill 

1 Hystriz dorsata, Desm. 
