PORCUPINE, 
of the skin is capable of acting with force, and 
it's structure is nearly the same with that of 
some birds. We have marked these relations, 
though not very apparent. It is always de- 
sirable to fix one point in Nature : who often 
escapes our researches; and seems, in her pro- 
ductions, to sport with those who wish to cul- 
tivate her acquaintance." 
The great French naturalist, who has figured 
both an Indian and an Italian Porcupine, ob- 
serves, that the slight differences between them 
depend on climate ; or they are, perhaps, only 
individual varieties. His history of the Por- 
cupine is copious, but very defective; particu- 
larly, in the descriptive part, and the just dis- 
criminations of the several species. 
Buffbn only notices three species of the 
Porcupine : but there are, in the Linnaean sys- 
tem, five known species — I. The Hystrix Cris- 
tata, or Crested Porcupine; 2. the Hystrix 
Prehensilis, or Brasilian Porcupine; 3. the 
Hystrix Mexicana, or Mexican Porcupine; 
4. the Hystrix Dorsata, or Canadian Porcu- 
pine ; and, 5, the Hystrix Macroura, or Long- 
Tailed 
