KATVIRAI. history.. 
n 
Thfs animal affords that celebrated refi- 
nous fubftance, Called Cafloreum, which is 
mixed moft fuccefsfully in feveral hyfteric 
and cephalic medicines. An Oil is likewife- 
extracted from it, called Oil of Caftor , which, 
while it remains, in its liquid, unftuous ftate,. 
is nfed for the cure of feveral diforders. 
The PO RCUPIlSrE, 
TT HIS animal is about two feet long, and' 
fifteen inches in height. The body is cover- 
ed with quills, from ten to fourteen inches 
long, and very fliarp at the points, growing- 
as feathers in birds. The head, belly, and. 
legs are covered with ftrong brillles; Its 
whifleers are long, and the ears like thofe of 
a man. When irritated, its quills ftand e- 
reft. The eyes are remarkably Imall, being 
only about a quarter of an inch wide. 
Like the hedge-hog, thefc quills aTe ra- 
ther for felf-defence than the purpofe of at- 
tacking an enemy. The idea, formerly en- 
tertained, that it darted its quills, is found 
to be erroneous ; they only fhed them when 
they moult; which, in Tome meafure, fhews 
.their alliance to the bird creation, though 
not deftined for flight, having neither wings 
n«r feathers. The quills, being found a 
fufiicient defence againlt the moft formidable - 
■animals, (how how powerful the weakeft 
' animals 
