E 176 ] 



rîor, as moving a group of feathers in the fore- 

 part of birds 5 but there is another pair which I 

 difcovered, and call the mufculi remigatorii pofte- 

 riores, as moving a group of feathers behind, 

 and thefe are defcribed in the fame le6ture. 



" Î am, with fincere wiflies for your health, 

 and fuccefs in your undertakings, 



" Your friend, and humble fervant, 

 "James Parsons. 



Of the Porcupine. 

 Extraèlofa let ter y dated Albany^ Aug, 10 tby 1742. 



The Porcupine, in this country, is a beaft 

 which makes its neft or den under the roots of 

 great trees, and fleeps much ; it feeds on the 

 bark of juniper and other trees, but chiefly on 

 juniper ; in winter it eats fnow inftead of drink- 

 ing, and laps water in fummer like a cat or dog, 

 f but carefully avoids going into it. His hair and 

 ' quills remain all fummer without alteration of 

 colour ; but as the weather grov/s warmer in 

 i the fpring, the fur grows thinner, as in all crea- 

 tures 



