300 Animal Life 
made to turn it over is a singularity with which every bushman is acquainted. After 
most strenuous efforts, aided by a stout stick used as a lever, I have known children 
utterly fail in their endeavour to overturn a full-grown porcupine. 
Dogs are at all times greatly irritated by the presence of this anteater, and little 
wonder, since their every attempt to bite the burrowing animal can but mean severe 
punishment. A little while ago—and it is the only instance coming under my notice—I 
was informed of a cattle dog (smooth-haired collie) which succeeded, after extraordinary 
perseverance, in killing a poreupine, though the treatment the determined animal was 
subjected to was extremely severe. Muzzle, gums, tongue, in fact the dog’s mouth 
generally, were considerably swollen and bleeding profusely—yet, with a warlike stride, 
ludicrously expressive of Vent, vidi, vict, the animal marched round its fallen victim 
in apparent satisfaction, despite the pain it must have suffered. 
The photograph on page 299 is of a fine porcupine, which, with the assistance 
of an enthusiastic. companion, I removed from some bracken ferns where it was 
discovered to a more open spot, but even before I had time to get my camera in 
position the porcupine had 
already commenced to sink 
into the ground, the black 
earth, visible in the fore- 
ground, being cast aside 
in the usual deliberate and 
effective manner. My other 
photograph on page 298 of 
unother specimen was 
more successful. 
The under-parts of a 
porcupine’s body are well 
covered with soft hair of a 
brownish tinge. The fore- 
feet ave armed with very 
long and powerful claws, 
as are also, though in a 
less degree, the hind-feet. 
When digging, the animal's 
head is tucked under until 
the top of its skull rests 
upon the earth; the long, sensitive snout by this means is safely protected among the 
soft fur thickly coating the chest. 
During the winter months the porcupine hibernates, seldom coming forth from 
its retreat till the warmth of late spring excites the insect world to renewed activity. 
The flesh of the porcupine is by many bushmen considered a delicacy, while by 
the aboriginals it is looked upon as a customary item in the bush menu whenever 
procurable. The native’s method of cooking the flesh is somewhat strange. After being 
captured and despatched, the animal is taken to the creek-bed, swamp, or water-hole 
beside which the natives are camping, and a fair supply of “pug” (yellow adhesive 
clay) having been scooped from the moistened soakage or water-way, the porcupine is 
entirely enveloped in it. Thus a heavy ball of clay is the result. This is placed 
among the hot embers of their camp fire and allowed to bake. As may be 
imagined, the clay slowly hardens till it cracks asunder, at which stage the “dish ” 
is considered fit to serve. When the clay casing is finally broken away, all the 
qulls, hair and skin adhere thereto, the flesh being cooked to a turn. 
ns 
ANT-HILL. 
Showing excavations made by Porcupine-Anteaters. 
