204 WILD NEIGHBORS CHAP, 
depressed at the pleasure of the animal, are gen- 
tly curved backwards, and are either dusky with 
the extremities white, or whitish throughout; the 
hinder portion of the body is entirely covered by 
a great number of long sharp spines, ringed with 
black and white, but always having the extremities 
white. These spines vary considerably in size, 
some of them being very long (fifteen or sixteen 
inches), comparatively slender and flexible; others 
shorter (from six to twelve inches), but much 
stouter. ... The porcupine lives in holes among 
the rocks, or in a burrow, which he makes for 
himself in ordinary ground. In this retreat he 
passes the day in sleep, coming forth in the even- 
ing in search of food, which consists of herbage 
of various kinds, fruits, roots, and the bark and 
leaves of trees and bushes. He is slow in his 
movements, and does not even display much ac- 
tivity in burrowing. His habits are solitary, ex- 
cept during the pairing-season; and during the 
winter he passes most of his time in his habitation, 
without, however, falling into a torpid state. The 
pairing takes place early in the year, ... andin 
the spring or early summer the female produces 
from two to four young in a nest carefully lined 
with leaves, grasses, roots, and other vegetables. 
The young porcupines are born with their eyes 
open, and their bodies are covered with short 
soft spines, which are pressed close to the body. 
These speedily harden and grow longer, and the 
young do not appear to remain very long with 
their mother. The flesh . .. is eaten in the 
countries where the animal occurs. When pur- 
sued or irritated, he stands on the defensive, erects 
his formidable quills and crest, stamps on the 
