Fes., 1912. MamMaAts oF ILLINOIS AND WIScoNsIN — Cory. 253 
Napzozapus insignis (MILLER). Woopianp Jumpinc Mouser. As 
has been previously stated, the Woodland Jumping Mouse may be 
looked for in northern Wisconsin, for, although it has not as yet been 
found within our limits, it has been taken in northwestern Michigan.* 
The white tipped tail and absence of the small upper premolar will 
distinguish it from Z. hudsonius. 
Family ERETHIZONTIDA. American 
Porcu pin es. 
The American Porcupines are short legged, slow-moving animals, 
with a thick body covering of hair mixed with quills or spines. They 
differ from the Old World Porcupines in having perfect clavicles; the 
skull somewhat different shaped; tuberculate soles of feet; absence 
of a pollex, etc.; and the quills are also much smaller. They are large- 
ly arboreal in habits. The quills or spines are loosely attached and 
fall out easily, but the animal is not able to forcibly eject them, and 
the legend of the Porcupine “shooting” its quills is, of course, absurd.f 
Five species and subspecies belonging to a single genus (Erethizon) 
are recognized in North America. Other genera belonging to this 
family occur in Central and South America, and have long prehensile 
tails. 
* Porcupine Mountains — Adams, Rept. State Board Geol. Surv. Mich., 1905 
(1906), p. 129. 
t This fable is of ancient origin, being mentioned by Solinus, Paulus Venetus 
and others in their accounts of the Old World Porcupine and gravely endorsed by 
Topsell and other subsequent compilers. Edward Topsell says, ‘‘When they are 
hunted the beast stretcheth his skin, and casteth the off, one or two at a time, 
according to necessity upon’ the mouths of the Dogs, or Legs of the Hunters that 
follow her, with such violence that many times they stick into trees’’ (Historie of 
Foure Footed Beastes, 1607, p. 588). ; . 
We can readily understand how early explorers in America would credit the 
American Porcupine with equal ability and thus have planted the seeds from which 
has grown a similar superstition regarding our species. Josselyn did not hesitate 
in doing so, describing our species as ‘‘a very Angry Creature, and dangerous, shoot- 
ting a whole shower of Quills with a rowfe at their enemies.’’ (New England Rarities, 
1672, p. 17.) 
