2 
COMMON PORCUPINE., 
and when he walks,, they (particularly those about 
the tail) make a rattling noise,, by striking against 
each other. The head., belly, and legs, are cover- 
ed with strong dusky bristles, intermixed with 
softer hairs ; on the top of the head these are very 
long- ; and curved backwards, somewhat like a 
ruff or crest. 
Such is the formation of this quadruped, in 
those parts in which it differs from most others : 
as to the rest of its figure, the muzzle bears some 
resemblance to that of a hare, but is black ; the 
legs are very short, and the feet have five toes, 
both before and behind, armed with strong claws ; 
the ears are thinly covered with very fine hair, and 
are in shape like those of mankind ; the eyes are 
smal 1 , like those of a hog, being only one third of 
an inch from one corner to the other. After the 
skin is taken off, there appears a kind of paps on 
those parts of the body from whence the large 
quills proceed ; these are about the size of a small 
pea, each answering to as many holes which ap- 
pear on the outward surface of the skin, and which 
are about half an inch deep/like as many hollow 
pipes, wherein the quills are fixed, as in so many 
sheaths. 
In its manners, the common porcupine is very 
harmless and inoffensive, never itself becoming the 
aggressor ; and when pursued, it climbs the first 
tree it can reach, where it remains till the patience 
of its adversary is exhausted. If, however, it is 
roused to self-defence, even the lion dares not ven- 
ture to attack it. 
The late sir Ashton Lever had a live porcupine, 
which he frequently turned out on the grass behind 
his house, to play with a tame hunting leopard, and 
a large Newfoundland dog. ' As soon as they were 
let loose, the leopard and dog began to pursue the 
porcupine, who always- at first endeavoured to 
