46 
SCENES IN INDIA. 
but as it will be evident that the dimensions of the 
larger species of snake must exceed those of the 
smaller, thirty feet will be a limitation far too nar- 
row against existing testimonies, both ancient and 
modern, in favour of the occasionally prodigious size 
of the boa constrictor. 
The porcupine is now an inhabitant of all the four 
continents, and everywhere a very harmless creature. 
It is armed with prickles, like the hedgehog, which 
are nearly as long as a goose-quill, and full as thick, 
and these prove its defence against its natural ene- 
mies. When attacked, it places its head between its 
legs, curves its tail under its belly, and erecting its 
quills, presents every where an array of pointed bristles 
to the assaulting foe. This animal has eight grinders 
besides two fore-teeth, which are obliquely divided 
both in the upper and under jaw. It is about the 
size of a small terrier dog, being usually, when full 
grown, from twenty-two to twenty-six inches long, 
and thirty inches high. The upper lip is sepa- 
rated like that of a hare ; it has a crested head, a 
stunted tail, with five toes on the hind feet, and four 
only on the fore. The spines on the back are ex- 
ceedingly sharp, and marked with alternations of 
white and black annular lines from the root to the 
point. These weapons are loose in the skin, being 
fixed in a socket, like the horn of the rhinoceros, a 
muscle or ligament being attached to each quill ; by 
this process the animal has the power, if irritated, of 
erecting its bristly arms, which are sufficiently stiff 
and strong when thus raised to resist the attacks of 
dogs, wolves, and large snakes ; the latter of which 
