176 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



Miscellaneous Peculiarities 



There remain to be considered certain characteristics which can not 

 be very accurately designated by any well-understood and precise term. 

 I refer to what is sometimes called by biologists a high degree of 

 specialization, and more particularly specialization in the direction of 

 bizarre and conspicuous features. 



The porcupine is a good example. This animal is of absolutely no 

 economic importance to civilized man. It lives in the forests and eats 

 little save twigs and bark. Its flesh was eaten to some extent by In- 

 dians and its quills were prized by them as ornaments, but neither flesh 

 nor armature are valued by whites. It might be supposed that a few 

 porcupines could find sufficient food and shelter in any small wood lot 

 and that they would remain there unmolested because of their inoffen- 

 sive habits. Yet few species have disappeared more rapidly before the 

 advance of civilization. 



The animal had few natural enemies because of the efficient pro- 

 tection of its spiny armature, consequently it had no fear and was a 

 slow breeder. Its spines, however, afford no protection from man, and 

 there can be no doubt that more porcupines have been killed from curi- 

 osity excited by the peculiar appearance of the animals and mere 

 wantonness than from any other reason. 



One species of armadillo is found in the Unites States chiefly in 

 Texas. It is an animal with a head and body about a foot in length 

 and a tapering tail of equal length. Its body is covered with an armor 

 of bony plates, quite solidly joined together in most places, but with 

 overlapping joints in the middle. "When attacked it curls up, covering 

 the poorly protected belly, throat and nose with its tail, and hence be- 

 coming invulnerable to teeth and claws. It is harmless in habit, living 

 chiefly on insects. Its peculiar appearance frequently leads people to 

 kill it from no motive except curiosity and wanton love of slaughter. 

 Eecently a tourist trade has grown up in the armor, which is made 

 into a basket, the tip of the tail being brought forward to the neck and 

 fastened there to form the basket handle. Thus an economic relation is 

 growing out of the bizarre appearance of the animal and its extermina- 

 tion seems to be only a matter of a few years, unless it receives better 

 protection. 



Horned toads, lizards and, to some extent, tortoises and snakes are 

 being slowly exterminated because their appearance arouses the desire 

 to kill and not because of any economic motive. A few comparatively 

 harmless species of insects, namely, the walking stick or devil's darning 

 needle, the praying mantis or rear-horse, and the rhinoceros beetle have 

 been nearly exterminated in some parts of the country merely because 

 their unusual appearance arouses an interest in them and their life is 

 forfeited therefor. 



