400 THE COMMON PORCUPINE. 



measure from nine to fifteen inches in length. These 

 are variegated with alternate black and white rings ; 

 and as some of them are attached to the skin only 

 by a delicate pedicle, they easily fall off. They are 

 formed of complete quills, wanting only the vane to 

 be real feathers. The animal has the power of ele- 

 vating or depressing them at will ; and when he 

 walks, they (particularly those about the tail) make 

 a rattling noise, by striking against each other *. 

 The head, belly, and legs, are covered with strong 

 dusky bristles, intermixed with softer hairs : on the 

 top of the head, these are very long ; and curved 

 backwards, somewhat like a ruff or crest. 



This animal is a native of Africa, India, and the 

 Indian Islands ; and is said sometimes to be found 

 even in Italy and Sicily. It inhabits subterraneous 

 retreats : which it is said to form into several com- 

 partments ; leaving two holes, one for an entrance, 

 and the other, in case of necessity, to retreat by. It 

 sleeps during the day time and makes its excursions 

 for food (which consists principally of fruits, roots, 

 and vegetables) in the night. Altliough able to 

 support hunger for a great length of time, and ap- 

 parently without inconvenience, it always eats with 

 a voracious appetite. In the gardens near the Cape 

 of Good Hope, these creatures do much damage. 

 When they have once made a path through a fence;, 

 they always enter by the same so long as it continues 

 open; and this gives the inliabitants an opportunity 

 of destroying them. When a breach is discovered, 



* £ufl; Quad. vii. 75, 



