IRIDESCENT PORCUPINE. 9 



like the former, on fruits, &c. It is said to be 

 easily tamed. The Indians apply the quills to 

 the forehead in cases of headach : they are said 

 to adhere till they are filled with blood, and then 

 to fall off ; thus relieving the complaint in a most 

 efficacious manner. Buffon seems to have con- 

 sidered this species as the same with the Ilystrix 

 prehensilis. It is said to have a strong and dis- 

 agreeable odour. The female produces two young 

 at a birth, in the hollows of trees. 



IRIDESCENT PORCUPINE. 



Hystrix Macroura. 7£ pedibus pentadactyliSf cauda longmima, 



aculeis clatatis. Lin. Si/st. Nat. p. yy* 

 Short-spined Porcupine, with pentadactylous feet, and veiy long 



tail, tufted at the extremity with clavated bristles. 

 Hystrix Orientalis. H. cauda longissima, aculeis widique obsifa, 



in extremo paniculata. Briss. Quadr. 13 1 . 

 Porcus aculeatus sylvestris, &c. Seb. i. p. 84. pL 

 The rice-tailed Porcupine. 



Long-tailed Porcupine. Pennant Quadr. 2. p. 123. 



The iridescent Porcupine is an animal of a 

 very extraordinary appearance. It is of a very 

 thick form^ and is coated with short, stiffs needle- 

 like bristles, or small spines, which, according to 

 the different directions of the light, exhibit 

 changeable colours, appearing either of a gilded 

 green, or of a reddish tinge. The head is thick 

 and short ; the snout blunt ; the eyes large ; the 

 ears rather small, rounded, and smooth within ; 

 the whiskers long, and the upper lip divided like 



