THE PORCUPINE. 
219 
S-nd legs are covered with strong, dusky bris- 
tles, intermixed with softer hairs : these are 
^ery long on the top of the head, and curved 
liackward like a ruff or crest. The teeth are 
'"Cry sharp and strong. Bosman, when on 
the coast of Guinea, put a porcupine into a 
strong tub, but in the course of the night he 
^■te his way through the staves and escaped. 
In its manners the porcupine is very harm- 
less and inoffensive. It is never itself the ag- 
gressor : when pursued, it climbs the first tree 
that it can reach, where it remains till the 
Patience of its enemy is exhausted ; but, when 
is roused to self-defence, the lion himself 
hare not attack it. In such cases it generally 
hes dowm on one side, and, on the approach 
^f its foe, rises quickly and gores him with the 
opines of the other. When it meets with ser- 
pents, against whom it carries on incessant 
'^ar, it draws in its head and feet, contracting 
fiself into a ball, and, rolling upon them, kills 
