Appendix. 501 



shake all their quills, but more particularly those 

 about the tail ; and at the same time exert their 

 voice, which is a kind of grunting noise. — The 

 keeper informs me, that whenever a Porcupine at- 

 tempts to injure any person who disturbs him in his 

 cage, he turns round and runs backward upofl liim. 

 This seems by no means improbable, since the direc- 

 tion of the quills is from the fore-part backward, and 

 by this act alone he is enabled to act seriously on 

 the offensive. 



THE BEAVER *. 



THERE are at present in the upper room at Ex- 

 eter 'Change two male Beavers, which have been 

 there about three years. They are very tame, and 

 will suffer themselves to be handled by the visitors, 

 but most persons are alarmed on approaching them 

 by the animals' uttering their small and plaintive cry. 

 This noise they also frequently emit during their 

 play with each other. They are at times exceed- 

 ingly gay and frolicsome, wrestling and playing with 

 each other, as far as the limits cf their small apart- 

 ment will admit. They often sit upright to look 

 about them, or sometimes to cat ; and, if any thing 

 moveable be given them to play with, they drag it 

 about, and seem highly pleased with it. I'hey have 

 in no instance been observed to drag any thin*];' about 

 on their tails, or to make any attempts to do so. In 

 'all their manners these animals are extremely cleanly. 



* See vol. i. p.. 11 3. 



* 



