ORDER RODENTIA. 203 



from difference of climate and locality, there can be no 

 doubt: but for the historical information of Agricola, 

 however, they would probably have been separated by zoolo- 

 gists into distinct species, as many others have doubtless 

 been, on grounds not more substantial. 



The European variety is found principally in the king- 

 dom of Naples, and in the southern parts of the Roman 

 States. It avoids populous parts, and selects stony and 

 dry situations, exposed to the south-east or south, in which 

 it digs deep burrows, with several entrances, where 

 it lives in solitude and security. Its extreme timidity 

 seems to induce it to continue in its retreat, and to seek 

 its sustenance only in the night. At the end of twi- 

 light, it approaches cautiously to the principal entrance 

 of its retreat, and does not risk itself entirely outside, 

 without first assuring itself that all is safe. As soon as it 

 has gained sufficient confidence, it proceeds in search of 

 fruit, bulbs, roots, fyc. fyc, or, at the accustomed period, of 

 its mate. It hibernates in its retreat, but its lethargy ap- 

 pears to be by no means so deep as that of some other 

 genera, as on the first fine day it may be found awake again, 

 and in search of food. 



Thus peaceably and quietly does the Porcupine pass its 

 allotted period of existence, which extends to fifteen or 

 twenty years ; and it is remarkable, that an animal so well 

 prepared for defence should been dowed with so gentle a 

 disposition. Other genera of this order, as the several 

 species of hares and rabbits, may be said to be possessed of 

 a means of defence from the rapacity of almost every ani- 

 mal of prey, in the timidity of their disposition, in con- 

 junction with a certain degree of celerity of motion; with- 

 out these, indeed, they are almost utterly defenceless : 

 but this is not so with the Porcupine. The ordinary phy- 

 sical powers of inferior animals are in general insufficient 

 to avail against the spines of the Porcupine ; and, to render 



