MAMMALIA—PORCUPINE. 51 
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 ox 
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 
off; 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 couniries, 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 
Rome. 
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, &e. It becomes fat 
like most other animals, towards the end of summer ; andits flesh, although 
insipid, is tolerable eating. 
