. The illustrated natural history [microform]. Mammals; Natural history; Mammifères; Sciences naturelles. 572 THE POIlCUriNE. I II !ln. «?'!''-''bu. iipprnximatos to tlic quill-liairs of tlio trim porcupinos, hoiiij,r oitlior flat niid Si'oovod ahovo, or dov. lopod into ilcxilc spines. Tlic tril is but s]iaroly covored with liau-, and is ratlicr short in ]iroporti(.u to tiie size of its owner. The liinder t'oet are onlv t'urnislied with four toes, armed with lar^e, rounded, and rather blunt claws. The ears are short and rounded, The PoRCUPTNE has long been rendered famous among men b
. The illustrated natural history [microform]. Mammals; Natural history; Mammifères; Sciences naturelles. 572 THE POIlCUriNE. I II !ln. «?'!''-''bu. iipprnximatos to tlic quill-liairs of tlio trim porcupinos, hoiiij,r oitlior flat niid Si'oovod ahovo, or dov. lopod into ilcxilc spines. Tlic tril is but s]iaroly covored with liau-, and is ratlicr short in ]iroporti(.u to tiie size of its owner. The liinder t'oet are onlv t'urnislied with four toes, armed with lar^e, rounded, and rather blunt claws. The ears are short and rounded, The PoRCUPTNE has long been rendered famous among men by the extraordinary armoury of pointed spears whi('h it bears upon its back, and which it was formerly tabled to launch at its foes with I'atal precision. This animal inhaliits many i)arts of tlie world, lieing found in Africa, Southern Europe, and India. The spines, or (^uills, with Mhieh it is furnished, vary considerably m length, the longest (juills being llexible, and not capable of doing much harm to an o])ponent. Heneath these is a plentiful supply of shorter sj)ines, i'rom five to ton inches m 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 reniain fixeil m the wound, and, unless immediately removed, work sad woe to the sufferer. Tor the quill is so constructed, that it gradually bores its way into the flesli burrowing deeper at every movement, and sometinu^s even causing the death of the M-ounded creature. In Africa and India, h'0])ar(is and tigers have frequently been killed m whose tiesh were pieces of Porcupine (piills that had penetrated deejily into the body and had even caused suppuration to take place. In one instance, a ti^er was found to have his ]iaws, ears, and head tilled with the spines of a rorcupine, which he had vainly been endeavouring to kill. _ Conscious of its powers, the Porcupine is not at all an aggressive animal, and seldom if ever
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, booksubjectmammals, booksubjectnaturalhistory
