ORDER OF RODENTIA. 
463 
The back, thighs, and rump of this animal are covered with 
pointed quills from eight to nine inches long ; these quills are 
annulated with black and white, and fixed to the skin by a 
pedicle. By means of the action of an enormous muscle, 
which moves at the will of the animal, these can bristle up 
and radiate in all directions. Their tail is rudimentary, and is 
not, like the back, covered with quills, but with entirely hollow, 
white tubes, which produce a sharp sound when they clash 
together. The muzzle is furnished with long and strong 
whiskers; the head and neck are covered with flexible hair, 
which is not prickly, but is susceptible of standing on end. The 
hinder parts of the body are completely devoid of quills, and the 
hair is there moderately soft. Long hair is also found on the 
fore parts, but it is intermixed with bristles. 
Under ordinary circumstances, the quills of the Porcupine 
lie close down on its body, and no one would suppose that at a 
moment’s warning they could become formidable weapons. But 
let anger or fear seize upon the animal, and a whole forest of 
bayonets spring up. If assailed, the Porcupine turns its back 
to the enemy, and places its head between its fore-paws, at 
the same time uttering a hollow grunting noise. If the assailant 
will not be intimidated, the Porcupine endeavours to thrust its 
quills against the body of the foe. The wounds thus inflicted 
are much to be dreaded ; for not only are they difficult and 
tedious to cure, but frequently the detached barbs adhering in 
the flesh are almost impossible to extract. 
The Porcupine is a shy, solitary, and nocturnal animal. It 
inhabits unfrequented localities, and hollows out deep burrows 
with several entrances. At night it comes forth to procure its 
food, which consists of herbs and fruit. It is not essentially 
hibernant in its habits. The female brings forth three or four 
young ones once a year, and they are covered with quills from 
their birth. 
The flesh of the Porcupine is good food, with somewhat the 
flavour of pork. It is, doubtless, this similarity, and also the 
grunting noise which they make, to which it owes its name of 
Porcupine. 
The Sunda Islands possess a species of Porcupine which is dis- 
tinguished from the preceding by a long tail. This is tho 
