ANIMALS WITH ARMOUR 99 



"flinging its dart-like quills at an antagonist," but this is undoubt- 

 edly pure imagination. Remembering that these beasts are 

 nocturnal, remaining hidden in burrows, caves, or clefts of rocks, 

 it is unlikely that this provision is provided, more especially when 

 it is borne in mind that to have any effect the "shot" would have 

 to be made with considerable force. On the other hand, it appears 

 well authenticated that wild denizens of the jungle, such as Tigers 

 and Leopards, have been found dead with the quills of the Porcu- 

 pine "piercing their nostrils and muzzles," and, so far as I can 

 ascertain, no reason is forthcoming as to how the quills became 

 thus embedded, unless the Porcupine had been attacked at close 

 quarters. The explanation may be that normally the quills lie 

 smoothly along the back, but when excited, or challenged to battle, 

 the Porcupine raises its quills of defence and then runs backwards 

 and makes a charge at its adversary. Therefore, those wild beasts 

 that have been discovered with the quills adhering to their heads 

 \\ere attacked in this way, or their attacks upon the Porcupine 

 were warded off by the latter in the manner indicated. Some of 

 the quills are always somewhat loose, and it would not be a big 

 task to dislodge them, beyond which the curious appendages are 

 also shed periodically. 



It is stated that the quill is armed with projections or barbs, 

 which, once inserted in the skin of another animal, make the task 

 of getting rid of them almost impossible. As a result, it is stated 

 that inflammation is set up — and the result is aggravated by the 

 efforts of the animal to dislodge its dart — and eventually the 

 Leopard or Tiger, or other assaulted beast, dies of starvation. 



I should like to state, however, that all the quills I have examined 

 have not possessed any projections or barbs, and I do not quite 

 see how this idea has originated. 



The food of this Porcupine largely consists of roots, but, like the 

 Common Hedgehog, shortly to be described, it resorts to sleep 

 during the Winter, and has no necessity to bother itself as to 

 provisions. For such a clumsily built animal it is quick-footed 

 and possesses a keen eye. The quills, as is well known, are used 

 for fishing floats, pen-holders, etc. 



The litter is produced during the Spring or early Summer, and 

 consists of from two to four. These interesting babies of the wild are 

 snugly ensconced in a nest which is built of grass, leaves and fibrous 

 roots. The youngsters are well advanced even when first born. 



