THE SOUTH AFRICAN PORCUPINE 



tured. However, the Leopard did not always come 

 off victorious, and at times was glad to slink off and 

 leave its intended enemy at peace. A hunter related 

 to me how he once came across a Leopard which 

 apparently was in dire distress. He shot it, and on • 

 approaching, noticed that its cheek and lips were 

 very much lacerated in its endeavours to remove 

 several strong porcupine quills which were firmly 

 embedded in its tongue and cheeks. Three were 

 sticking in the roof of its mouth, thus preventing 

 the tortured creature from closing its jaws. It 

 had evidently attacked a Porcupine, and being rash 

 or inexperienced, sought to seize it in its jaws, with 

 the above frightful result. From the appearance 

 of the mouth, the Leopard had been in this condition 

 two or three days. Its sufferings must have been 

 appalling. 



On another occasion a Leopard was shot, and it was 

 noticed that one of its paws was in a crippled state. 

 On examination a portion of a porcupine quill 

 was seen to be deeply imbedded in its foot. The 

 whole paw was in a swollen and highly inflamed 

 condition. 



Young lions often attack the Porcupine and retire 

 from the conflict with feet pierced by the sharp 

 spines which break off, leaving their points imbedded 

 firmly in the pads of the aggressor. The spines set 

 up inflammation, and the paws of the Lion become a 

 mass of suppurating sores, which so severely cripple 

 the animal that it slowly dies of starvation. Even 



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