IN FEATHERS AND FUR. 
43 
A WARRIOR. 
Ugh ! what a bristly fellow this is ! It wouldn't be very 
pleasant to take hold of him, with all his quills sticking out like so 
many needles. 
I suppose I needn't tell you that this warlike personage is a 
Porcupine, and that he has on his fighting manner, which is a very 
uncomfortable one, it must be admitted. If you should get a stab 
from any of those sharp quills, it would be very painful, and if every 
speck of the quill was not taken out, it would make a long, tedious 
wound to cure. 
These curious weapons are eight or nine inches long, and 
black and white. When the animal is in good humor, and sees 
nothing to be afraid of, the quills lie fiat down, and he does not look 
so very fierce. But let him take fright, and they all fly "P in an 
instant, and he is ready to defend himself. It must be convenient 
to have ones weapons so handy. If danger comes near, he turns 
his back to the enemy, and charges at it backwards, or else sticks 
his head between his feet and grunts. If it is night— and it 
