48 
SCENES IN INDIA. 
the native inhabitants of the country as affording 
very delicate food. 
The macroura differs chiefly from the cristata in 
having a long tail, and the same number of toes, that 
number being five, on the hind and fore feet. They 
are found chiefly in the forests of the islands of the 
Indian archipelago. 
The mexicana is found in the mountains of Mexico, 
where it is frequently caught and tamed by the Indians 
for the sake of its quills, which are supposed by them 
to contain great medicinal virtues. When reduced 
to powder, they are used as a specific for gravel, and 
are said, when applied whole to the forehead, to relieve 
the most intense headache. This animal grows nearly 
to the size of a pointer dog, having bristles mixed 
with the hair on its back, which latter is a fine soft 
down. It differs much from the first-named species, 
is perfectly harmless in its wild state, and very easily 
tamed. 
The prehensilis or Brasilian porcupine, is the 
smallest of all the races. It has a long tail, the legs 
and body being covered with fine brown hair. It 
sleeps in the day like the hedgehog, and at night goes 
in quest of its food, which consists chiefly of birds and 
small animals. It is the fiercest of the five species, 
and less easily tamed than either. 
“ The porcupine,” says Mr. Wood,” * is about two 
feet long. He dwells in large burrows or holes, of his 
own digging, which have a single entrance, and are 
divided into many apartments. He goes about during 
the night in search of fruits, roots, and herbs ; and is 
* See his Zoography, vol. i. p. 287. 
