Chap. 54.] 
BEARS AND THEIB CUBS. 
305 
coat, and not its colour, for it is covered with hair in the winter, 
and goes bare in summer. The tarandrus is of the size of 
the ox ; its head is larger than that of the stag, and not very 
unlike it ; its horns are branched, its hoofs cloven, and its 
hair as long as that of the bear. Its proper colour, when it 
thinks proper to return to it, is like that of the ass. Its hide 
is of such extreme hardness, that it is used for making breast- 
plates. When it is frightened, this animal reflects the colour 
of all the trees, shrubs, and flowers, or of the spots in which it 
is concealed ; hence it is that it is so rarely captured. It is 
wonderful that such various hues should be given to the body, 
but still more so that it should be given to the hair. 
CHAP. 53. (35.) THE PORCUPINE. 
India and Africa produce the porcupine, the body of which 
is covered with prickles. It is a species of hedgehog, but the 
quills of the porcupine are longer, and when it stretches the 
skin, it discharges them like so many missiles. With these it 
pierces the mouths of the dogs which are pressing hard upon 
it, and even sends its darts to some distance further. It 
conceals itself during the winter months, which, indeed, is the 
nature of many animals, and more especially the bear. 
CHAP. 54. (36.) BEAES AND THEIE CUBS. 
Bears couple in the beginning of winter, and not after the 
fashion of other quadrupeds ; for both animals lie down and em- 
brace each other.'^*' The female then retires by herself to a sepa- 
rate den, and there brings forth on the thirtieth day, mostly 
five young ones. When first born, they are shapeless masses of 
white flesh, a little larger than mice their claws alone being 
68 It is possible that the quills of the porcupine may be stuck into the 
skin of the dog so firmly, as to be detached from their natural situation ; 
but there is no reason to believe that they can be darted out or projected 
by any exertion of the animal. iEUan, Anim. Nat. B. i. c. 31, and B. xii. 
c. 26, describes the hystrix ; see also Aristotle, Hist. Anim. B. vi, c. 
30.— B. 
69 Cuvier remarks, that this account of the bear is generally correct ; he 
points out, however, certain errors^ which will be duly noticed. -3Elian, 
Anim. Nat. B. vi. c. 3, gives an account of the parturition of the bear. — B. 
''^ This description of their mode of coupling, though from Aristotle, 
Hist. Anim. B. vi. c. 30, is not correct. Buffon and other naturalists 
assure us that they do not differ herein from other quadrupeds. — B. 
Aristotle says, that the cubs are born blind, without hair, and that 
VOL. n. X 
