30 ZOOLOGY. 



A disagreeable little tribe, of a foeted smell and un- 

 pleasant aspect, they feed on worms and insects, and aie 

 generally found in the vicinity of Avater. 



11. Ermaceus. Hedge-Hog. Upper front teeth two, 

 distant ; lower two approximate ; tusks in the upper jaw 

 fiye, in the lower three ; grinders four ; back and sides 

 covered with spines. 



In woody situations this class ii not uncommon ; their 

 food is beetles, worms, and vegetable substances, parti- 

 sularly fruits and roots that are in a state of putridity. 



OnDER IV. GLIRES. 



Front teeth cutting, two in each jaw, approximate, but 

 remote from the grinders, tusks wanting ; feet clawed, 

 formed for running and bounding. The order comprises 

 ten genera, which feed on roots, the bark of trees, flesh, 

 fish and other animal and vegetable substances. 



1. Hystrix. Voncvvi^-E. Fro«/<ee<A two, cut off obliquely ; 

 grinders eight ; toes, four on the f ore-feet ani four or 

 five on the hind-feet : body covered with spines and hair. 



Porcupines generally biwrow in the earth, where they 

 form capacious apartments, they usually quit their retreats 

 towards the dusk of the evening, in search of food, which 

 consists of fruits, roots, and vegetables : when alarmed they 

 coil themselves up, and in this state their spines become 

 erected, and they are then so completely armed that few 

 animals will venture to attack them. 



