. Chambers's encyclopedia; a dictionary of universal knowledge for the people. , are, asto their structure, merely thick and strong Hystricidce are plantigrade ; the fore-feet havefour toes and a rudimentary thumb, the hind-feethave five toes. Their general aspect is heavy andpig-like, and they have a grunting voice. Themuzzle is broad and blunt; the ears short androunded ; the incisors smooth and large, two above,and two below; the molars eight al:)ove, and eightbelow. The name porcupine is derived from theFrench words pore, a hog, and epin, a spine.—TheCommon P. (//. crislata) is a
. Chambers's encyclopedia; a dictionary of universal knowledge for the people. , are, asto their structure, merely thick and strong Hystricidce are plantigrade ; the fore-feet havefour toes and a rudimentary thumb, the hind-feethave five toes. Their general aspect is heavy andpig-like, and they have a grunting voice. Themuzzle is broad and blunt; the ears short androunded ; the incisors smooth and large, two above,and two below; the molars eight al:)ove, and eightbelow. The name porcupine is derived from theFrench words pore, a hog, and epin, a spine.—TheCommon P. (//. crislata) is a native of the south ofEurope, of many parts of Asia, and of most parts ofAfrica. It is one of the largest of rodents, beingfrom two to three feet in length, besides the tail,which is about six inches long. The hinder part ofthe head and the neck are furnished with a crest oflong bristles, capalde of being elevated or dejiressedat pleasure. The muzzle and limbs are coveredwith very short hair; the back and sides with688 spines, which are longest on the middle of the back,. Porcupine [Hystrix cristata). where they are almost of the thickness of a goose-quill, and more than a foot long. The spines aresui)ported by a slender pedicle, and they terminatein a sharp point; they are longitudinally striated,and are ringed with black and white, which gives ageneral gray colour to the animal. Their ordinaryposition is flat, with the points directed backwards;but when the animal is excited, they are erected,and it rolls itself up like the hedgehog, with spineapointing in every direction. The tail spines orquills are of very singidar structure, being openthin-sided tubes, about two inches long, supportedupon slender flexible pedicles; and they make asound by rattling together when the tail is P. is said to rattle also the spines of its bodywhen irritated, but this is doubtful. The statementhas been often made, that it throws off its spines orquills by a voluntary act, launching
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