OEDEE OF EODENTIA. 463 



The back, thighs, and rump of this animal are covered with 

 pointed quills from eight to nine inches long ; these quills are 

 annulated with black and white, and fixed to the skin by a 

 pedicle. By means of the action of an enormous muscle, 

 which moves at the will of the animal, these can bristle up 

 and radiate in all directions. Their tail is rudimentarj'-, and is 

 not, like the back, covered with quills, but with entirely hollow, 

 white tubes, which produce a sharp sound when they clash 

 too-ether. The muzzle is furnished with long and strong- 

 whiskers ; the head and neck are covered with flexible hair, 

 which is not prickly, but is susceptible of standing on end. The 

 hinder parts of the body are completely devoid of quills, and the 

 hair is there moderately soft. Long hair is also found on the 

 fore parts, but it is intermixed with bristles. 



Under ordinary circumstances, the quills of the Porcupine 

 lie close down on its body, and no one would suppose that at a 

 moment's warning they could become formidable weapons. But 

 let anger or fear seize upon the animal, and a whole forest of 

 bayonets spring up. If assailed, the Porcupine turns its back 

 to the enemy, and places its head between its fore-paws, at 

 the same time uttering a hollow grunting noise. If the assailant 

 will not be intimidated, the Porcupine endeavours to thrust its 

 quills against the body of the foe. The wounds thus inflicted 

 are much to be dreaded ; for not only are they difEcult and 

 tedious to cure, but frequently the detached barbs adhering in 

 the flesh are almost impossible to extract. 



The Porcupine is a shy, solitary, and nocturnal animal. It 

 inhabits unfrequented localities, and hollows out deep burrowsi 

 with several entrances. At night it comes forth to procure its 

 food, which consists of herbs and fruit. It is not essentially 

 hibernant in its habits. The female brings forth three or four 

 young ones once a year, and they are covered with quills from 

 their birth. 



The flesh of the Porcupine is good food, with somewhat the 

 flavour of pork. It is, doubtless, this similarity, and also the 

 grunting noise which they make, to which it owes its name of 

 Porcupine. 



The Sunda Islands possess a species of Porcupine which is dis- 

 tinguished from the preceding by a long tail. This is the 



