THE COMMON PORCUPINE. 725 



climbs with great ease, seldom using its tail, except as an aid in 

 descent. 



The total length of the Coendoo is about three feet six inches, of 

 which the tail composes one foot six inches. Its nose is thick and blunt, 

 like that of the common porcupine, and the face is furnished with very 

 long whisker-hairs of a deep black. The numerous spines which cover 

 the body are parti-colored, being black in the centre and white at each 

 extremity. Their length is rather more than two inches on the back, an 

 inch and a half on the fore-legs, and not quite an inch on the hinder- 

 limbs. A number of short quills are also set upon the basal half of the 

 tail, the remainder of that organ being furnished with scales, and taper- 

 ing to its extremity. The color of the scales is black. The entire under 

 surface of the tail is covered with similar scales, among which are inter- 

 spersed a number of bright chestnut hairs. The abdomen, breast, and 

 inner face of the limbs are clothed with dense, brown, coarse hairs. It is 

 a nocturnal animal ; sleeping by day, and feeding by night. 



GENUS HYSTRIX. 



Southern Europe, Africa, all India, Ceylon, and South China are the 

 homes of the five species of Hvstrix. They are all remarkable for the 

 coat of spines or quills with which they are defended. 



The Common Porcupine, Hystrix cristata (Plate LVIII), is found in 

 Europe. Africa, and India. It is over two feet in length. The spines 

 or quills vary considerably in length, the longest quills being flexible, 

 and not capable of doing much harm to an opponent. Beneath these is a 

 plentiful supply of shorter spines, from five to ten inches in length, which 

 are the really elfective weapons of this imposing array. Their hold on 

 the skin is very slight, so that when they have been struck into a foe, they 

 remain fixed in the wound, and unless immediately removed work sad 

 woe to the sufferer. For the quill is so constructed, that it gradually 

 bores its way into the flesh, burrowing deeper at every movement, and 

 sometimes even causing death. 



The Porcupine is a nocturnal animal, and is therefore not often 

 seen even in the localities which it most prefers. It is said not to require 

 the presence of water, and its food is entirely of a vegetable nature. This 

 animal takes up its abode in deep burrows which it excavates, and in 

 which it is supposed to undergo a partial hibernation. 



