UiiUi^rtsiurta. 



29 inches 



• « ■ 



7 do. 



. 



8J do. 



. 



. . IJ do. 



■ • 



31 do. 



^80 CANADA PORCUPINE. 



- pecimen from the same locality, which appears to be that of a young 

 animal, i • duU -white, with brown nose ears and rump. In every speci- 

 men, however, the hair on the hips, upper surface of tail, and under 

 surface of body, are dark blackish-brown. In all these cases, it is the 

 long, overhanging, light-coloured hairs, that give the general whitish 

 appearance. 



The difference between these specimens is so striking, that whilst 

 those from Lower Canada may be described as black, the others from the 

 far West, may be designated as light-gray. Except in size and colour, 

 there are no especial marks of difference. 



Length of head and body 

 Tail (vertebrae) . 

 Tail, to end of fur 

 Breadth of nose . 

 From heel to longest nail 

 We possess one specimen a little larger than the above, and several 

 that are considerably smaller. 



The Canada Porcupine, of all North American quadrupeds, possesses 

 the strangest peculiarities in its organization and habits. In its move- 

 ments it is the most sluggish of all our species. Although the skunk is 

 slow of foot, he would prove no contemptible competitor with it in a trial 

 of speed. Under such circumstances the inquiry arises, what protection 

 has this animal against the attacks of the wolverene, the lynx, the 

 wolf, and the cougar ? and how long will it be before it becomes total- 

 ly exterminated ? But a wise Creator has endowed it with powers by 

 which it can bid defiance to the whole ferine race, the grisly bear 

 not excepted. If the skunk presents to its enemies a formidable bat- 

 tery, that stifles and burns at the same time, the Porcupine is clothed in 

 an impervious coat of mail bristling with bayonets. 



We kept a living animal of this kind in a cage in Charleston for six 

 months, and on many occasions witnessed the mamier in which it arrang- 

 ed its formidable spines, in order to prove invulnerable to the attacks of 

 its enemies. 



It -wsLS occasionally let out of its cage to enjoy the benefit of a pro- 

 menade in the garden. It had become very gentle, and evinced no spite- 

 ful propensities ; when we called to it, holding in our hand a tempting 



