July 16, 1891.1 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



51B 



THE PORCUPINE. 



TEE remarks of "Lotor" about the porcupine rolling 

 itself into a little ball were read with interest, as 

 alsio the pertinent reply of ''BackwoocUmau," in your 

 issue of May 38. I nijst heartily indorse -'Backwoods- 

 man" iu his assertions, but want to add a few observa- 

 tions carefully made during the last tvpenty years. He 

 says he has seen thousands of them in the pine woods, 

 but does not give his address so we may understand where 

 these improperly-called hedgehogs are so numerous. I 

 live in Michigan, and though I have been a close observer, 

 not over twenty-five i)orcupine have come to my notice 

 altogether, and I have hunted and collected in both 

 peninsulas. 



The common porcupine {EretJiozon dorsatus) is -well 

 known to persons livinj? iu wild and unsettled portions of 

 the Union east of the Mississippi River and north of 43° 

 north latitude. To tire east it is getting scarce, and even 

 in this tState is now very rarely taken south of 42 ", 

 although formerly quite common here at Kalamazoo, 43° 

 20'. I am informed that it is still found in some parts of 

 northern Pennsylvania, and, as is well known, it is 

 abundant in Maine, northern New York, Vermont and 

 New Hampshire in the wilder portions, Avhile in Wiscon- 

 sin and Michigan north of 44° it is a familiar rodent. 



I am not aware that the porcupine ever feeds on any 

 substances not vegetable, and therefore cannot indorse 

 "Backwoodsman's" assertions that it will devour almost 

 anything around camp. His observations were un- 

 doubtedly made during the winter months, as he embraces 

 old boot packs in the porcupine's menu, and as my notes 

 were mostly made in the spring and fall it follows that 

 I may not understand the predilections of this strange 

 creature at other times. That the animal is miscliievous 

 and disposed, like a colt, to investiga te ;uid mutilate, is 

 true, and this characteristic may account for the habits 

 observed arotmd camp, when it apparently attacked any- 

 thing available. In careful dissections made upon both 

 young and old specimens, I have found the stomach 

 to contain only vegetable matter. Leaves generally com- 

 pose the fare frorn Jtlay till August, and I doubt not that 

 the animal could hve entirely upon this diet. The bill 

 of fare is often varied with tender bark of young trees 

 and shrubs, and frequently by bark not so tender, as I 

 have seen them feeding on the inner bark of the white 

 oak (Quercus alba). In season the acorns of this oak 

 furnish food for the needle-backs, and in the fall I have 

 shot them from immense timber-land oaks fully 75ft. 

 from the ground. These oaks, all of 50ft. without a limb 

 and 30in. in diameter, would seem insurmountable to 

 animals apparently so clumsily formed, but the unwieldy 

 creatm-es scale the rough-barked trees with ease, if not 

 with the activity of a squirrel, at least with much greater 

 ease than the woodchuck (Arctomys monax). The porcu- 

 Ijine feeds largely on grass and clover when it can get it, 

 and in this respect much resembles that other destruciive 

 lodent, the woodchuck, which has come to almost entirely 

 select clover fields for his burrows, moving about as the 

 farmer shifts his crops from field to field. 



It is when the young are with the old one that grass and 

 the foliage of shrubs, as well as roots, are chosen, for I 

 do not think the young mount into trees of any size until 

 quite half grown; at least I have never met with small 

 unes in trees nor have I learned of their being taken there. 

 I have never seen young so small that they were still nurs- 

 ing,but have thrice taken them when still in company with 

 their mother, though they had adopted a vegetable diet. 

 The young are undoubtedly brought forth in burrows, 

 though as to this I cannot attest. At least they quickly 

 hide in burrows when disturbed, as do the old ones also, 

 although, if alone, the old ones evidently prefer hollow 

 trees. One place that I know of where these strange 

 animals are to be found is in a huge hollow sycamore, in- 

 tricately connected with other and smaller trees by huge 

 roots, which contain a labyrinth of passages. This 

 sycamore is so smooth that a squirrel could hardly mount 

 it, yet the old porcupine has been seen at the top. It 

 always seemed to me that the animal must have climbed 

 to the top by way of the hollow. 



I have once found two young in company with the old 

 one, and twice only one young. The litter undoubtedly 

 consists of at least two and probably more, for I do not 

 know of one species of Michigan rodents which brings 

 forth less than two, and generally there are three or more 

 in a litter.* The young run along after the mother in 

 her seai-ch for food, and are exact counterparts of the 

 parent when only 8 to lOin. long. At this length they 

 are provided with spines, and will throw themselves 

 into a defensive posture if an intruder comes suddenly 

 on the scene, as does a kitten when disturbed by a dog. 



The porcupine is a muscular but very clumsy animal. 

 With great strength, both of jaw and Limb, and undoubt- 

 edly capable of making a good defense if it were gifted 

 with activity and courage, it is as great a coward as 

 exists, and if prevented from seeking safety in flight 

 offers no offensive resistance, but squats down and waits 

 the expected onslaught, with elevated back and erected 

 bristles. If not molested it will, upon the slightest chance 

 being given it, shuffle off to a place of security. When in 

 this position , although not in shape hke a ball, as des- 

 cribed by "Lotor," it rests upon its feet, which are drawn 

 in under the body, with its head turned down, offering 

 the_ best position to repel attack. Against a hunter this 

 position does not afford it safety, as a smart blow with a 

 .stick will turn it heels up, when it may be quickly des- 

 patched; but to a dog or other animal the defense is ijrac- 

 xicaUy complete, and the porcupine is as safe behind its 

 impregnable cheveaux de frise as if it was in its burrow 

 •or in the top of a tree. Woe to the dog that ignorantly 

 bites at that animal in an attempt to worry it. The 

 result is a mouthful of sharp, bearded spines or quills, 

 from 1 to Sin. long, which are readily detached from the 

 integument and as readily penetrate the lining of the 

 mouth and the nose of its luckless assailant. Sometimes 

 as many as fifty or more quills may be found sticking in 

 the mouth and muzzle of an uneducated dog, which, 

 maddened with pain after his first mouthful, has renewed 

 }iis_ attack, thoroughly enraged at his quiet enemy. These 

 quills must be drawn out, and the sooner the better for 

 the sufferer, as they cannot be removed by the dog and 

 will lead to frightful suppuration, and usually to death. 



*0£ imported rodents, J have repeatedly known of instances 

 WQere tiie Gainea-pig produced but one at a. birth. 



Wildcats and even the cougar or American lion are said 

 to have been found dead" with quill-lilleJ mouths, the 

 result of hunger-inspired .^ttacks on the porcupine. These 

 quills, largest and most numerous on the back and rump, 

 are the natural covering of certain parts of the animal 

 and, like the intermingled.hairs, sining from follicles in 

 the creature's skin. They are readily reproduced and are 

 undoubtedly intended for a protection of an otherwise 

 defenseless animal. They may lje readily disengaged 

 from the integument, and the removal quickly follows 

 the tension made on them after the point of the quill is 

 driven into the flesh and is held there by the barbs, small 

 and numerous, which press backward against the 

 penetrated skin or other integument. I am thus explicit, 

 and perhaps unnecessarily diffuse, as read by those who 

 have examined the arrangement, because I want to men- 

 tion a mooted question. There are still many who firmly 

 believe that porcupiiies throw their quills, and though it 

 is almost too simple a subject to discuss, a word may not 

 come amiss. There are many intelligent pcopUj' who 

 could not be brought near to one of these iaolfensive 

 animals, firmly believing that the creature has tiie power 

 of shooting the quills to quite a distance and with groat 

 accuracy. I have been told repeatedly, and by men of 

 undoubted veracity, that they had often seen men, fences, 

 dogs and trunks of trees filled with the thrown quills of 

 the hedgehog. They were simply tellmg what they had 

 often heard and had come to sincerely believe, 



"Like one 



Who. having unto truth, by telling of it, 

 Made such a sinuer o£ liis memory 

 To credit his own lie." 



These people would be hard to convince of their error 

 under any circumstances, and yet I have much sympa- 

 thy for them, for there are numerous stories at present 

 going the rounds which are much more ridiculous. 



The porcupine when assailed elevates its back and 

 makes the skm tense, so that the quills are erect and in 

 the best position for defense. This position is followed, 

 when an .attack is made on the creatm'e, by quick eleva- 

 tions or jerks upward and sideways of head and body, 

 accompanied by floppings of its armed tail, which are 

 made to inflict injury on the enemy, the animal in the 

 meantime looking about for an advantage or chance for 

 safety. There is no other time when a wild animal will 

 fight as it will when found in company with its young, 

 and the efforts of a female porcupine to protect her single 

 young one called forth my admiration. The old one kept 

 its front toward its offspring, which it placed beside a 

 log and partially covered with its foreparts, and in addi- 

 tion to its bristling armor it also used its teeth, savagely 

 biting a stick when pushed away. This old one weighed 

 211bs, , and its stomach contained over 14^1bs. of green 

 vegetable material ground up as fine as good teeth could 

 chew it. The small one weighed 41bs. , and its paunch 

 was distended with the same food. 



The senses of the porcupine are evidently very dull or 

 else it is conscious of no danger, deeming its protection 

 sufficient guarantee for its safety. I have more than once 

 discovered them by the dropping of bark or acorns from 

 the limbs where they were feeding, and have then 

 watched their actions for some time as they continued to 

 feed, wholly ignoring my presence. If shot at when 

 feeding in_ a large tree, say 60ft. from the ground, they 

 are not easily brought down, and when resting on a limb 

 three or four inches in diameter, which protects the head 

 and vitals, a good many shots are required to bring it off 

 its perch. The quills ofter strong protection against any- 

 thing biit very coarse shot, and even with Bs it is not 

 readily dislodged, as it possesses great vitality and will 

 hang till the last gasp. One that was well riddled, after 

 falling fully 70ft., escaped me in a piece of dense under- 

 growth. 



Having a true hunter's appetite, with addition of a 

 great amount of curiosity, I have been in the habit of 

 testing the edible qualities of many of the wild birds and 

 mammals not generally in demand. Among others I 

 tried some porcupine stew, being led to believe that it 

 would be palatable and gamy, as it is said to be quite 

 often eaten by our red brothers. Now, woodchuck, coon 

 and possum go well, and I have nothing particirlar to say 

 against some other animids not generally chosen, but as to 

 porcupine, excuse me. After cooking for five hotirs, and 

 still finding it not done, it was thrown to the dogs, 

 which discreet animals elevated their noses to heaven and 

 gave a dismal howl. 



In nearly every specimen tha.t I have examined, the in- 

 testines as well as stomach were found to be suiiering 

 from the ravages of a pecuhar parasite, and, strange to 

 say, these entozoans of singular habit were always found 

 attacking the external lining of the tissues and were not 

 found within the alimentary canals of the otherwise ap- 

 parently healthy animal. 



In conclusion, a word in regard to hedgehogs. This 

 animal is only found on the Eastern Continent and 

 islands. It belongs to the order Insect ivora, and has 

 teeth formed much after the fashion of the mole. The 

 porcupine, so often incorrectly called hedgehog, belongs 

 to the Rodentia, ov gnawers, 'and its teeth are formed 

 more like those of the rat, squirrel and woodchuck. It is 

 several times the size of the little hedgehog. The name 

 hedgehog, therefore, in no way applies to our American 

 porcupine. MoBRis GiBBS, M.D. 



KaijAmazoo, Mich. 



WHALE, WALRUS AND SEAL. 



EARLY in July, 1889, the small schooner Nicoline, 

 registering about forty tons and drawing only 5ft. 

 of water, left San Francisco for the mouth of the Mac- 

 kenzie River in search of the bowhead or Polar whale. 

 The vessel was commanded by Capt, Louis ITerendeen, 

 whose brother, Edward P. Herendeen, a coi-respondent 

 of Forest and Stream, accompanied him as fii'st mate. 

 The crew comprised nine men, and additional help was 

 to be obtained among the Esquimaux at Point Barrow or 

 Herschell Island, all of whom are excellent and fearless 

 whalers. 



Many whalemen believe that the bowhead breeds at 

 the mouth of the Mackenzie. Although many whales pass 

 into the Arctic through Bering Strait in the spring, very 

 few are seen to return southward in the fall dming the 

 stay of the whalers. Of course they all come south later. 

 IMackenzie saw a great many whales at the mouth of the 

 river bearing his name during his Arctic explorations. 

 Near Point Barrow whales have been killed with old irons 



of the Greenland whalers imbedded in their blubber. 

 When stationed at Point Barrow with the Signal Service 

 expedition of 18S2-18S3, Capt. E. P. Herendeen traveled 

 far to the eastward and learned from the natives, that 

 whales are abundant in the locality in which tlie Nicoline 

 and other vessels ai'e now operating. The Nicoline was 

 selected because of the advantage a vessel of light draft 

 would liave in following small leads in the ice near shore. 

 She reached Herschell Island about last August, and the 

 steamer George W. Hume and another vessel or vessels 

 were there at the same time. While at Point Barrow ill- 

 ness forced Capt. E. P. Herendeen to abandon the voyage 

 to the eastward, and he returned to San Francisco. ' He 

 has taken steps, however, to secufe information for For- 

 est and Stream and collections of natural history objects, 

 which we hope to report upon after the return of his 

 brother during the coming fall. 



In conversation with the Captain recently we have 

 obtained some additional interesting notes on the whale, 

 walrus and seal, which we give herewitii. 



Capt. Herendeen has seen whale calves only a few days 

 old at Point Barrow— so small that their flukes were not 

 yet straigtened out and the whole calf could be taken 

 into a single vomiaJc, or skin boat. The very young calves 

 are not timid and are easily caught by the natives, who 

 delight in eating them, in a short time the cow^s teach 

 them to sink in times of danger and their captitre be- 

 comes difficult. The whales commence going to the east 

 at Point Barrow about April 15 and the young accompany 

 them; tliey continue running until June and are seen 

 occasionally as late as June 15. 



Walrus breed on the ice and live along its southern edge, 

 coming furthest south in winter. When the whalers 

 catch the pups in June and July thev find them pretty 

 well grown and bearing little tusks. Natives informed 

 Capt. Herendeen that walrus, some time ago, were taken 

 as far north as Point Barrow in winter, and that they 

 have breathing holes in the ice just like seals. A herd of 

 1,000 walrus was driven ashore and capttured at Point 

 Moller yea,rs ago; from these were obtained 8,0001bs. of 

 ivory. A pod of 4t0 wa,s started inland and kept moving 

 for some time by pricking those that turned, in the nose 

 with a sharp iron-pointed pole. Finally, however, they 

 became utterly unwilling to go further fi'om the sea and 

 every one of the lot dug his snout deep into the moist 

 sand, completely protecting the only tender portion, 

 plowing as much as one foot deep, and it was impossible 

 to turn a single individual. When walrus haul out 

 on the land the near approach of good weather may 

 be confidently expected; they love to lie in close contact 

 like pigs and frequently one will partially overlap another. 



In the winter of 1885 a number of seals were killed by 

 Esquimaux while traveling over the snow from the frozen 

 rivers to the sea. Capt. Herendeen saw the tracks of four 

 or five that were escaping from their imprisonment in this 

 way. About 30 miles inland, southeast of Cape Sraythe, 

 he found a seal that had been killed by a native when 

 going out with his dog team. The seals go into the rivers 

 for whitefish, trout, smelt and other fish; they fijid open 

 holes full of food and continue their feast until the ice 

 freezes up everything solid, and then they are forced to 

 travel overland. The Esquimaux say they never make a 

 mistake and <ro the wrong direction; the com-se to the sea 

 is laid along the nearest route. T. H. Bean. 



UkcBNT Ar4IUVAI;R AT TUE PniL,VI>KI,l-IU A Zooi-onrcAT. (tAIl- 

 DUN. i'iu-chii.-t:d-()iie iJiiiiUiohli,'.'^ giikj { l.'iUii ciu iiinnarliun}, otie 

 Ki-izzly hear cub (fTrms fl?Tto,s linrnhiHf) f , one K'llcion cat (Felt's 

 nuKiimriKis) S , DHL' pruns-iiorutd Hiiiclope (A iitihwaiirn amcH- 

 caiia) i . tsvo i.Tilhi.-<inH's lian- seals {Zahiphus cahttirnhtnw) ,<: and 9 , 

 one rc.i-l.illeil lioi-nbill ilnccus ('/•;/?/)rnp«/((///i)/,s). two Orinoco 

 Kcesc <..' • >,":'■!> ■•■ juhata) S ami 9, fiv« Kin-opean widgeons 

 (-«'" ■ . . . ,t and ,i ¥, iiVB blac-k snakes iBasmniOll 



tna^Li I' : 1 u Atf.-i snake {<Jpliimuru-s voUriiiis). seven kmg 



■"J uv i< h , /L?f/)'s), ihi. I ^Miua 1 J i( 1. su il Ls (( ?o;aZop7iO- 

 i-im iniluinm), iiuie piae snakes (Pitiiophiif melanoleucm), three 

 cliicken snakes ((.iilvhi r iiiMdriviltatm). lour coach-wnip snakes 

 (B((xc((//U(/;( CDUsinircfir jUnaViiormc}, one indiEco snake (Spilotes 

 Cfdiemius). one common lioti-nosed snake {Heterocioii iMtyrhinxis), 

 one Dlsck hotr-uoicd ^iiake (if. plalurhimis atmotles), two ganer 

 snakes ( iSuiwnta strtahs), nnu one boa {Boa constrictor). Presented 

 —One Rarbai-y ape. (Macacus imim) i . twelve opossums (Didelphys 

 inroiniana). three raccoons tProci/on hAor). one prairie woif iCanis 

 UitranH)<f, one red fox {(jams vulpc^ iidvusK one soarrow hawk 

 [J^akn sparvcnm). one mockiLHiurd ilurftiu^ polyqlottm), two 

 oaired owls Usy rn nun nchiUommK six aUu.ul.oi-.4 {Ailiijntor missis- 

 A'ippiCD.S'isl, SIX musk turrles {AroiiiDcIirhi.-^ iiitoratux). one\ello\v 

 w^iip HO'ilce {Dascauifirm llariclhiorinc tcsinccmn). one Hav's king 

 snake {Uijliibnhi.^ uciulus -Sf/yi), one lloibrook'a water snake (Tropi- 

 donoiiis rhomhiicr), zwo \\ oudhouie^? war.er snakes (T. siped^n 

 woodlioiisri), one iiou-t] oyed r,u}x\ie {Hctrrodo}i jilntijrhiinisi). one pine 

 snake {Pitijuplm maarinie-itcw^). and ihi ee t;ar>er snakHS (Butrmia 

 sirtatis). Horn— Oiu^ Vu t;-uiia deer {Caridcnti L'tr(/t/; . ' - n i ■ ine 

 tallow deer (Oerrw.v dauia), one bactnau camel (tiamrii: ■■:) 

 $, one black lemur (Lof/KO- /iiaeacij). one llama (La,:; , , 

 one American elk {Ccrvus canadcntiitt) 9 . and six e.n rt-r sr,a;--e:i 

 {EKtcB-ivui' sirtalis). Kxenau^ed— Four Bell's painted terrapin 

 Hjliriisemytt hcdi), one unarmed solt-shelled turtle (Amyda mutica), 

 and one Kobbsu Island snake (Corondla pliomrum). 



\umB §dg mtd 0nti. 



The full texts of the game laws of all the States, Terri- 

 tories and British Provinces are given in the Booh of the 

 Oame Lavjs. 



ANOTHER OLD STORY. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



Old Captain Prout, for whom Front's Neck, now a 

 well-knov\aa summer resort, is named, was a noted gun- 

 ner in the days when waterfowl were plenty in that 

 vicinity. "Early one spring, 1860 or thereabouts," said 

 an old settler to me, "he brought home from the West 

 Indies a gun, the like of which had never been seen by 

 the natives. It was a muzzleloader, about a 2-gauge, 

 and weighed some 301bs. Soon after its ai-rival there 

 came a heavy storm, and the next morning a pond a 

 couple of acres in extent back of the Captain's barn was 

 covered with ducks so thick that another one could not 

 possibly have been squeezed in. Here was an oppor- 

 tunity to try the new gun, and loading it with the regu- 

 lation charge, of Jib, powder and ilb. shot, he sallied 

 forth. At the corner of the barn he cocked the piece 

 and stepped out with it held in rsadiness. When within 

 about 40yds. all the ducks jumped as one bu-d. The 

 Captain aimed at the middle of the mass and fired." 



Here my informant stopped as if expecting some en- 

 couragement, and somewhat against my will I felt con- 

 strained to ask, "How many did he get?" 



"Wal," he replied, "he didn't get any, he undershot 

 but he picked up three bushels of ducks' legs." 



MAINK. E. W I* 



