The PORCUPINE.
The very ſingular properties of this animal have been the foundation of many fabulous reports.
Nature, in all her productions, gives to every animal ſome particular quality—in ſome ſhe implants a fierce and ſavage cruelty, regarding only the gratification of an inordinate appetite; in others a mind harmleſs and peaceable, yet poſſeſſed of powers and faculties to act on the defenſive, ſuch as extreme caution, or cunning, which may be called an internal defence; or an external one, ſuch as ſhields the animal now before us—thus guarding the weaker againſt the overbearing oppreſſion of the ſtronger, thereby preſerving an equality and balance in her productions. The Porcupine is in its nature quiet, and ſeldom gives provocation of offence; and when attacked by an animal of prey defends itſelf by erecting its quills in ſuch a manner as always to keep them pointed towards the enemy; thus ſecuring its own ſafety. Sparman, a modern traveller to the Cape, reports, "By rolling up its body like the hedge-hog into a heap, and ſetting up its prickles, or quills, many of which are a foot and a half long, it is perfectly well defended from dogs, as well as other animals.”—If time permits, it makes towards, and aſcends a tree, where perched in ſafety, it wearies the patience of its purſuer.
The power formerly attributed to the porcupine of voluntarily diſcharging its quills, and with them mortally wounding, at a conſiderable diſtance, is now entirely diſcredited, great provocation having been uſed, if poſſible, to produce this effect, but without ſucceſs. The quills are ſtrongly inſerted in the body of the animal; each one fed or ſupported by a ſmall ball or nucleus of a ſoft ſpongy matter, varying in ſize according to the bulk of the quill.
Thoſe Porcupines which inhabit the Eaſt are reported to poſſeſs a Bezoar or ſtone, which is reputed an antidote to poiſon; this is found in the head, and is conſidered of great value. Taverner reports his giving five-hundred crowns for one, which he afterwards changed to advantage; he ſays they are alſo found in the belly ſometimes. Of this animal there are ſeveral ſpecies little akin otherwiſe than in being provided with a coat of quills. The one here drawn has the upper lip divided, head like an hare, with a row or ruff of ſtiff briſtles ſurrounding it on the forepart of the ſhoulders and top of the head, reclining backwards; the body part is thickly covered with quills from nine to twelve inches long, very ſharp at the point, and regularly annulated with alternate black and white; ſome of the larger quills are near a quarter of an inch diameter; the internal ſubſtance is ſpongy, like the upper part of a gooſe-quill; the body is thickly covered with hair between the quills; the head, belly, and legs are covered with ſtrong briſtles rooted among ſoft hair; the feet are ſhort, as is the tail, which is covered with quills: the general length of the animal is about three feet; it inhabits Africa, India, Tartary, and Paleſtine. In Italy a ſpecies with ſhorter quills run wild; theſe are ſold in the market at Rome, where they are eat:—The traveller before quoted ſays, "the fleſh neareſt reſembles pork, a circumſtance which undoubtedly gave it the name it bears; it is chiefly uſed as bacon, being ſmoked and dried up the chimney for that purpoſe, and is by no means ill-taſted." It feeds on fruits, roots, and herbs; the colour inclines to black.
