144. THE PORCUPINE. 
marshy ground, and especially if it be supplied by springs, the Ondatra 
builds little houses that rise about three or four feet above the water, and 
look something like small haycocks. 
THE PORCUPINE has long been rendered famous among men by the extra- 
ordinary armoury of pointed spears which it bears upon its back, and which 
it was formerly fabled to launch at its foes with fatal precision. 
This animal inhabits many parts of the world, being found in Africa, 
Southern Europe, and India, The spines or quills, with which it is furnished, 
vary considerably in length, the longest quills being flexible and not capable 
of doing much harm to an opponent. Beneath these is a plentiful supply of 
shorter spines, from five to ten inches in length, which are the really effective 
weapons of this imposing array. Their hold on the skin is very slight, so 
that when they have been struck into a foe, they remain fixed in the wound, 
and, unless immediately removed, work sad woe to the sufferer. For the 
quill is so constructed that it gradually bores its way into the flesh, bur- 
rowing deeper at every movement, and sometimes even causing the death of 
the wounded creature. In 
Africa and India, leopards 
and tigers have frequently 
been killed, in whose flesh 
were pieces of Porcupine 
quills that had penetrated 
deeply into the body, and 
had even caused suppura- 
tion to take place. In one 
instance a tiger was found 
to have his paws, ears, and 
head filled with the spines 
of a Porcupine, which he 
had vainly been endeavour- 
ing to kill. 
The Porcupine is a noc- 
turnal animal, seldom ven- 
turing out of its retreat as 
PORCUPINE,—(Hystrix Cristdta.) long as the sun is above 
the horizon, and is there- 
fore not often seen even in the localities which it most prefers, It is said 
not to require the presence of water, but to quench its thirst by eating the 
succulent roots and plants which it digs out of the ground. Its food is 
entirely of a vegetable nature, and consists of various kinds of herbage, 
as well as of bark, fruit, and roots. This animal takes up its abode in 
deep burrows which it excavates, and in which it is supposed to undergo a 
partial hibernation. - , 
As the spines of the Porcupines are of some commercial value, and are 
used for many purposes, the chase of the animal is rather popular in the 
countries which it inhabits, and derives a further interest from the fact that 
the Porcupine, although a timid creature, can make a very powerful resist- 
ance when it is driven to despair. ; 
The upper parts of the body are covered with hair instead of quills, and 
upon the head and neck there is a kind of crest, composed of very long stiff 
hairs, which can be erected or depressed at pleasure. Like the hedgehog, it 
can coil itself into a ball when it is surprised at a distance from its haven of 
refuge, and can present such an array of threatening spikes that it is quite 
safe from any enemy excepting man. When, however, the animal is at peace, 
it is capable of depressing the bristling spears, and can squeeze itself through 
