328 



MAMMALS 



jy 







which are tho spinoH, or quills, wliich foiistitiite a notably 

 efficient means oF defense. \\']ieii on the defensive, a por- 

 cupine ai'ehes its haelv and I'ohs up into a hall. The tail, 



which is thickly 

 covered with sijines, 

 is the main organ of 

 defense. The nn- 

 warv' d.:)g or person 

 worrying the porcu- 

 pine is often caught 

 witliin striking dis- 

 tance. The spines 

 are rough and 

 jagged at the ends, 

 hut shai'p, and when 

 the>' once enter the 

 Hesh, tend to work 

 farther in. 



Prairie marmots. 

 — These little ani- 

 mals, Ijetter known 

 as " prairie dogs," 

 are elostdy related to 

 the woodchuck of 

 New iMigland and the middle .states. The i)(\st-known 

 species is found on tlie praiiies west of the Mississijipi 

 Ri\'er. They li\'e iu colonics and dig deep hurrows in the 

 ground. The great quantities of earth brought up in dig- 

 ging these holes are piled iu a mound near the mouth of the 

 burrow. 



Beavers. — The bea\-ei' is one of the laigest and hea\-iest 

 rodents, oflen weighing thirty to lifly pounds. The body 



Fi 



■'). — I'oT-ciipIin' in tree top. Redrawn 

 fnmi ail ilhist iiitiori by r>ii,tinioro hi McCIurt 's 

 Mdijiiziiif. UMII). 



