NATURAL HISTORY. 59 
— 
PORCUPINE. 
"Tins animal is about two feet long, and fifteen 
-inches in height. The body is covered with quills, 
from ten to fourteen inches leng, and very fharp at 
the points, growing as feathersin birds. ‘the head, 
belly and legs are covered with ftrong briftles. Its 
whifkers are long, and tlie ears like thofe of a man.. 
When irritated, its quills ftand erect. The eyes are 
remarkably fmall, being only about a quarter of an 
inch wide. 
Like the hedgehog, thefe quills are rather for felf 
defence than the purpofe of attacking an enemy. The 
idea formerly entertained, that it darted its quills, is 
found to be erroneous; they only fhed them when 
they moult ; which, in fome meafure, fhews their al- 
liance to the bird creation, though not deftined for 
flight, having neither wings nor feathers. The quills, 
being found a fufficient defence againit the moft for- 
midable animals, fhow how powerful the weakeft ani- 
mals may be rendered, when under the {kill and 
workmanfhip of infinite wifdom. 
_ A wolf, it is faid, was once found dead, with fome 
of the quills of the porcupine fticking in his mouth 3. 
no doubt but they muft have ftuck there, when hun- 
ger induced him to the rafh attempt of devouring this 
ielf defended animal. ' 
The porcupine is generally defcribed to bean in- 
offenfive animal, living entirely on fruits, roots and 
vegetables ; but fome naturalifts, particularly, Dr. 
Goldfmith, affert, that they prey upon ferpents, with 
which they live in perpetual enmity. “Their method 
of attacking them is faid to be, that the porcupine | 
rolls himfelf on them, wounding them with its quills, 
until they expire, when they are immediately de- 
voured by the victor. 
It is an inhabitant of India, Perfia, Paleftine and 
every part of Africa. Although not originally a na- 
tive of Europe, it is found wild in Italy ; in which 
