444 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 



The PORCUPINE. 



THIS animal, fo formidable in its appearance, 

 would be much more truly fo, if it poflefled the 

 power erroneoufly afcribed to it, of darting its quills at 

 its enemies, and wounding them at a diftance. 



Though denied the privilege of making ofFenfive war, 

 it is fufficiently armed to refill the attacks of animals 

 much more powerful than itfelf. — Upon the fmalleft irri- 

 tation, it raifes its quills, and makes them with great vi- 

 olence, directing them to that quarter from whence it is 

 in danger of being attacked, and Unking at the object of 

 its refentment with its quills at the fame time. We have 

 obferved, on an occafion of this fort, at a time when 

 the animal was moulting or calling its quills, that they 

 would fly out, to the diftance of a few yards, with fuch 

 force, as to bend the points of them againft the board 

 where they (truck ; and it is not improbable, that a cir- 

 cumftance of this kind may have given rife to an opinion 

 of its power to-ufe them in a more effe&ual manner. 



The largeft of the quills are from ten to fifteen inches 

 in length, thick in the middle, and extremely fharp at 

 the end : Between the quills, {he hair is thin, black, and 



