32 



*' harrowed in the ground whenever it had an oppor* 

 " tunity, and covered itself with earth with surprising 

 " quickness; it was quiet during the day, but con- 

 " stantly in motion in the night ; was very sensible 

 " to cold ; it eat all kinds of vegetables, but waS 

 " particularly fond of new hay, which it ate stalk by 

 ** stalk, taking it into its mouth like a Beaver, by 

 *' small bits at a time; it was not wanting in intelli- 

 *' gence, and appeared attached to those to whom it 

 '* was accustomed, and who were kind to it; and 

 " when it saw them it would put its fore paw on the 

 " knee ; when taken up, it would sleep in the lap : it 

 *' allowed children to pull and carry it about, and 

 " when it bit them, did not appear to do it with 

 " anger or violence. It appeared to have arrived at 

 ** its full growth, weighed about twenty pounds, and 

 *' was about two feet two inches long." 



The Brazilian Porcupine (Hystrix Prehensilis). 



This very curious animal measures about two feet 

 six inches in length, and is entirely covered, except 

 the tip of the tail, with short, strong, and very sharp 

 spines, of which the largest is about three inches ; it 

 inhabits woods, and climbs trees, in which it is assisted 

 by its prehensile tail. They are inhabitants of the 

 warmer parts of South America. Both the specimens 

 in this Collection were kept some time alive in Lon- 

 don. Their food was entirely of a vegetable nature, 

 and their manner mild and inoffensive ; their voices a 

 weak, tremulous cry, somewhat resembling that of a 

 young pig, but not so shrill or loud. 



Near this is the Canada Porcupine ( Hystrix Dor- 

 sata). 



The spines of this are longer and sharper than the 

 last, but owing to its being covered with long. hair, 

 are not visible but on close inspection ; it sometimes 



