THE PORCUPINE 

 Hystrix oristata, Linn. 



Somali name, Ano gub 



Description. — The Somali porcupine belongs to the North 

 African species. The general colour is black, only the true quills 

 being banded black and white. The head and legs are covered 

 with coarse bristles. The tail is peculiar. The quills with which 

 it is furnished are hollow and have the appearance of having 

 been cut off short; these hollow quills are usually white. As 

 the accompanying diagrams show, the front foot is only furnished 

 with four toes, while the hind has five. The breasts, in the female, 

 of which there are two pairs, are situated laterally. 



Measurements of an adult male, taken in the flesh, were as 

 follows : 



Length of head, body and tail . 880 mm. or 34 in. 



Round body 5°° » ., 19I ,, 



Length of sole of forefoot . • 57 ,, „ 2J „ 

 „ hindfoot . . 90 „ „ i\ „ 

 Weight 25 lb. 



The weight of a female killed the same day was 32 lb. 



Distribution, — The porcupine is found all over Somaliland, 

 but being nocturnal in its habits is seldom seen. 



Habits. — Porcupines are nocturnal animals, and spend the 

 day in holes in the ground. They are usually seen singly or in 

 pairs, or a pair accompanied by a small family of two or three 

 young ones. Almost entirely vegetarian as regards their diet, they 

 are a great nuisance to gardeners — doing in one night a great deal 

 of damage. When startled or annoyed they make a peculiar 



MS 10 



