. The popular natural history . Zoology. 144 THE PORCUPINE. marshy ground, and especially if it be supplied by springs, the Ondatra builds little houses that rise about three or four feet above the water, and look something like small haycocks. The Porcupine has long been rendered famous among men by the extra- ordinary armoury of pointed spears which it bears upon its back, and which it was formerly fabled to launch at its foes with fatal precision. This animal inhabits many parts of the world, being found in Africa, Southern Europe, and India. The spines or quills, with which it is furnished
. The popular natural history . Zoology. 144 THE PORCUPINE. marshy ground, and especially if it be supplied by springs, the Ondatra builds little houses that rise about three or four feet above the water, and look something like small haycocks. The Porcupine has long been rendered famous among men by the extra- ordinary armoury of pointed spears which it bears upon its back, and which it was formerly fabled to launch at its foes with fatal precision. This animal inhabits many parts of the world, being found in Africa, Southern Europe, and India. The spines or quills, with which it is furnished, vary considerably in length, the longest quills being flexible and not capable of doing much harm to an opponent. Beneath these is a plentiful supply of shorter spines, from five to ten inches in length, which are the really effective weapons of this imposing array. Their hold on the skin is very slight, so that when they have been struck into a foe, they remain fixed in the wound, and, unless immediately removed, work sad woe to the sufferer. For the quill is so constructed that it gradually bores its way into the flesh, bur- rowing deeper at every movement, and sometimes even causing the death of the wounded creature. In Africa and India, leopards and tigers have frequently been killed, in whose flesh were pieces of Porcupine quills that had penetrated deeply into the body, and had even caused suppura- tion to take place. In one instance a tiger was found to have his paws, ears, and head filled with the spines of a Porcupine, which he had vainly been endeavour- ing to kill. The Porcupine is a noc- turnal animal, seldom ven- turing out of its retreat as long as the sun is above the horizon, and is there- fore not often seen even in the localities which it inost prefers. It is said not to require the presence of water, but to quench its thirst by eating the succulent roots and plants which it digs out of the ground. Its food is entirely of a vegetable nature, and consists of
Size: 1781px × 1403px
Photo credit: © The Book Worm / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjectzoology, bookyear1884
