i68 THE WORLD OF ANIMAL LIFE 



the little animals until they are able to take care of them- 

 selves. 



Although the harvest mouse is so pretty and interesting, the 

 farmer does not like it, for it eats his corn, and often gets carried 

 with the sheaves into his stacks. It is not obliged to leave these 

 after a day or two, like the rat, when they are placed upon 

 " staddles ", for it can obtain quite as much moisture as it needs 

 from the rain and dew which fall upon the tops and sides of 

 the stacks. And it does so much mischief that the farmer is 

 obliged to kill it without mercy. 



THE PORCUPINE 



One of the strangest of living animals is the Porcupine, famous 

 for its formidable array of long, sharp spines, which are ringed 

 alternately with black and yellowish white. It is an inhabitant 

 of several countries of Southern Europe, and also of Northern 

 Africa and many parts of Asia. But as it is strictly nocturnal 

 in its habits it is not very frequently seen, even in those districts 

 in which it is most abundant. 



This singular creature is another member of the great family 

 of Rodents or " gnawing animals '. Its rodent teeth are remark- 

 ably sharp and strong, and are capable of inflicting a very severe 

 bite. Yet the animal appears never to employ them as weapons. 

 When it is attacked its first impulse is to seek safety in flight. 

 But if it finds that its pursuer is gaining upon it it suddenly runs 

 backwards upon him, and endeavours to wound him with its 

 spines. 



It was formerly supposed that the porcupine possessed the 

 power of casting these spines to some little distance, and of so 

 wounding an enemy. But this is not the case. It is quite true 

 that the quills are not strongly inserted into the skin, and that 

 they sometimes fall out by accident. But beyond the power of 

 raising and depressing them at will, the animal has no control 

 over them, and is quite unable to launch them like spears into 

 the air. 



