P O R 
for it's temerity with it's life. It is moreover 
certain, that thofe Porcupines which have been 
imported into Europe, have never been known to 
launch their quills, though irritated to the higheft 
degree. Di'. Shaw, who faw numbers of thefe 
creatures in Africa, fays that none of them ever 
attempted to launch their quills ; their ufual me- 
thod of defence being to lie down on one fide, 
and, at the approach of an enemy, to rife up fud- 
denly, and wound him with the points on the 
other. It is generally imagined that this animal 
is feldom the aggrelTor; and, when attacked by 
any other, that it only directs it's quills lb as to 
oppofe their points to the foe: in general, it is 
tiien fccure ; and Kolben afferts. that even the lion 
v.'ill not dare to provoke it when thus on it's 
guard. 
Pennant afferts, that the Porcupine is a harm- 
lefs .-'.nimai; living on fruits, roots, and vegeta- 
bles: other naturaliiis, however, affirm, that it 
chiefly hunts for ferpents, and all other reptiles, 
for fubfiitence; t!:at between the ferpent and the 
Porcupine fuch an irreconcileable enmity fubfids, 
that they never meet v;ithout a mortal engage- 
ment; and that on fuch occafions the Porcupine 
roils itfelf on the ferpent, by which means it de- 
frroys, and afterwards feafts on it. Thofe ani- 
mals, however, of this genus, introduced into Eu- 
rope, are ufually fed on bread, milk, and fruits; 
but they have no objedion to meat whenever of- 
fered them. 
The Americans, who hunt the Porcupine, af- 
fure us that it lives from twelve to fifteen years. 
During the feafon of love, which is in the month 
of September, the males become very fierce and 
dangerous, often deftroying each other with their 
teeth. The female goes feven months with 
young; and brings forth only one at a time, which 
fhe fuckles about a month, accuftoming it betimes 
to live like herfelf; and at this feafon, though na- 
turally timid and harmlefs, flie becomes very re- 
foiute in defence of her progeny. 
The Porcupine never attempts to bite, or any 
way injure it's purfuers. If hunted by a dog or 
a v/olf, it inftantly climbs a tree, and continues 
there till it has tired the patience of it's adverfary ; 
but fhculd this refource be wanting, it lies down 
on one fide, (as already obferved) and prefents it's 
quills to the foe. Hov/ever, the Porcupine does 
not eafily efcape from the Indian hunter, who ea- 
gerly purfues it, in order to make embroidery of 
it's quills : and alfo to feafl on it's flefh, which, as 
commonly reported, is tolerable eating; though, 
when favages are the arbiters of delicacy, we can 
hardly expefl that their ideas and ours will coin- 
cide. With regard to the embroidery manufac- 
tured from the quills, it is both curious and ele- 
gant: the Indians dye the quills of various co- 
lours, and fplit them into fiips, with which they 
decorate their bafrcets, belts, and many other ar- 
ticles of furniture and ornament. 
The Porcupine is a dull and torpid animal ; ex- 
tremely voracious, though capable of enduring 
hunger. It is hardly pofiible to domefiicate it: 
and the poets very properly gave it the epithet of 
fretful ; for, when confined in a cage, it's refent- 
ment is excited by the flighteft approach, and it's 
quills are immediately erefted in defiance. 
The Porcupine inhabits India, Perfia, Palef- 
tine, and every part of Africa; and is alfo found 
wild in Italy, though not originally indigenous to 
Europe. The Italian Porcupines, which are 
Vol. II. 
P O R 
fometimes expofed to fale in the markets at Rome, 
have finaller crefts and fhorter quills than thofe 
of Afia and Africa. 
Porcupine, Long-Tailed; the Hyfl:rix Ma- 
croura of Linnseus. This animal has large bright 
eyes; fhort naked ears; and long whilkers. The 
body, which is fhort and thick, is covered vv^ith 
long ftiff hairs, as lharp as needles, refleiling dif- 
ferent colours according as the rays of light hap- 
pen to fall on them. The feet are divided into 
five toes, one of which turns backwards, and fup- 
plies the place of a thumb. The tail is about the 
length of the body; and very flender tov/ards the 
end, which is confiderably tufted, the briftles be- 
ing thick in the middle, traniparent, and fhining. 
This animal inhabits the iflands of the Indian 
Archipelago, living chiefly in unfrequented fo- 
refi:s. 
Pop.cupiNE, Brazilian; the Hyftrix Prehen- 
filis of Linnsus. This creature is much fmaller 
than the common Porcupine,- and it's quills arc 
about three-fourths fhorter. It has a fhort blunt 
nofe; and long white whifkers. It's tail is one 
foot and a half long, tapering towards the extre- 
mity; the lad ten inches of which are almoft 
naked; but it is poffeifed of a flrong prehenfile 
quality. 
This fpecies is a native of Mexico and Brazil, 
where it chiefly lives in the woods, feeding on 
fruits and poultry. It fleeps in the day-time, and 
hunts for it's food during the night. It ma'Kes a 
peculiar noife with it's noltrils, as if out of 
breath ; and grunts like a hog. It poiTeffes the 
faculty of climbing trees; and, in defcending, 
twifts it's tail round the branches, to prevent it 
from falling. It's flefh is fat and well-flavoured ; 
and the animal itfelf leems eafily tamed, though 
feldom feen in Europe. 
Porcupine, Canadian; the Hyfi:rix Dorfata 
ofLinn£us. This animal, which Bufibn deno- 
minates the Urfon, has a lefs round body than any 
of the other fpecies, but more the refemblance of 
a pig in fhape. It is covered with long briftly 
hair, with fliorter hair underneath, amid which 
great quantities of quills lie concealed : thefe quills 
are v/hite, with brown tips, and bearded, being 
about four inches in length. 
Thefe creatures form their nefls under the roots 
of large trees, where they fleep a great part of their 
time, feeding at intervals on fruits and bark, efpe- 
cialiy the bark of the juniper. In winter, the 
fnow ferves them for drink; and in fummer they 
lap water like dogs. When they cannot efcape 
their purfuer, they make tov/ards him fideways, 
in order to v/ound him with their quills: but 
thefe prove but feeble inflrruments of defence; 
for, on ftroking the hair, they adhere to the hand, 
and come out of the fkin. The Indians flick 
thefe quills in their nofes and ears, to form open- 
ings for their ear-rings and other decorations. 
The edges of their deer-fkin garments are alfo 
trimmed with fringes made of thefe quills; and 
with them they alfo decorate their bark- boxes. 
This fpecies is very numerous near Hudfon's 
Bay; and many of the trading Indians feed on 
their flefli with great avidity, efteeming it both 
wholefome and delicate. Sir Jofeph Banks im- 
ported one of thefe animals from Newfoundland, 
which was about the fize of a hare, but fhorter 
and more compadlj and the length of the tail was 
about fix inches. 
PORCUPINE-FISH. In the Artedian fyf^ 
3 E tern. 
