5 
LONG* TAILED PORCUPINE, &C. 
It is bought in the markets of Rome for the table. 
The Italian porcupines have shorter quills, and a 
less crest than those of Asia and Africa. Some 
of these animals produce a bezoar. These bezoars 
were once highly valued, and have been sold for 
five hundred crowns a-piece. 
Long-tailed porcupine. 
The long-tailed porcupine has also long whis- 
kers ; large bright eyes ; and short naked ears* 
His body is short and thick, and covered with long 
stiff hairs, as sharp as needles, of different colours, 
gilded, green, or of a reddish tinge, as the rays of 
light fall on them. His feet are divided into five 
toes ; that which serves as a thumb turns back- 
wards. The tail is as long as the body, very slen- 
der at the end, which consists of a thick tuft. 
The bristles are thick in the middle* appear as if 
jointed, and rise one out of the other like grains 
of rice. They are transparent, and of a silvery 
appearance. It inhabits the isles of the Indian 
Archipelago, and lives in the forests. 
Brasilian porcupine. 
The Brasilian porcupine has a small head, 
blunt nose, long white whiskers, and a bed of 
small spines beneath the nose. The top of its 
head, its back, its sides, and the base of its tail, 
are also covered with spines. The longest of these 
on the lower part of the back and tail are about 
three inches long, very sharp, and white, barred 
near their points with black. They adhere close 
to the skin, which is quite naked between them ; 
and are shorter and weaker as they approach the 
belly. On the breast, belly, and lower parts of 
the legs, they are converted into dark brown 
