in zoology, a genus of quadrupeds belonging to the order of glires, the characters of which are these: They have two fore-teeth, obliquely divided, both in the upper and under jaw, besides eight grinders; and the body is covered with quills or prickles. (See Plate C.I. fig. 5.) There are four species, viz.
1. The critata, or crested porcupine, has four toes on the fore-feet, five toes on the hind-feet, a crested head, a short tail, and the upper lip is divided like that of a hare. The length of the body is about two feet, and the height about two feet and a half. The porcupine is covered with prickles, some of them nine or ten inches long, and about \( \frac{1}{2} \) of an inch thick. Like the hedge-hog, he rolls himself up in a globular form, in which position he is proof against the attacks of the most rapacious animals. The prickles are exceedingly sharp, and each of them has five large black and as many white rings, which succeed one another alternately from the root to the point. These quills the animal can erect or let down at pleasure; when irritated, he beats the ground with his hind-feet, erects his quills, shakes his tail, and makes a considerable rattling noise with his quills.
Most authors have asserted that the porcupine, when irritated, darts his quills to a considerable distance against the enemy, and that he will kill very large animals by this means. But Mr Buffon, and some other late historians, assure that the animal possesses no such power. Mr Buffon frequently irritated the porcupine, but never saw anything like this darting of his quills. He says indeed, that when the creature was much agitated with passion, some of the quills which adhered but slightly to the skin, would fall off, particularly from the tail; and this circumstance, he imagines, has given rise to the mistake.
The porcupine, though originally a native of Africa and the Indies, can live and multiply in the more temperate climates of Spain and Italy. Pliny, and every other natural historian since the days of Aristotle, tells us that the porcupine, like the bear, conceals itself during the winter, and that they bring forth their young in 80 days. But these circumstances remain to this day uncertain. It is remarkable, that although this animal be very common in Italy, no person has ever given us a tolerable history of it. We only know in general, that the porcupine, in a domestic state, is not a fierce or ill-natured animal; that with his foreteeth, which are strong and sharp, he can cut through a strong board; that he eats bread, fruits, roots, &c. that he does considerable damage when he gets into a garden; that he grows fat, like most animals, about the end of summer; and that his flesh is not bad food.
2. The prehenilis, or cuandu, has four toes on the fore-feet, five on the hind-feet, and a long tail. It is considerably less than the former species, being only 17 inches long from the point of the muzzle to the origin of the tail, which is nine inches long; the legs and feet are covered with long brownish hair; the rest of the body is covered with quills interperforated with long hairs; the quills are about five inches long and about \( \frac{1}{2} \) of an inch diameter. He feeds upon birds and small animals. He sleeps in the day like the hedgehog, and searches for his food in the night. He climbs trees, and supports himself by twisting his tail round the branches. He is generally found in the high grounds of America from Brazil to Louisiana and the southern parts of Canada. His flesh is esteemed very good eating.
3. The dorfata, has four toes on the fore-feet, five on the hind-feet, and has quills only on the back, which are short, and almost hid among the long hair. He is about two feet long. He is a native of Hudson's bay. The savages eat his flesh, and make use of his skin as a fur after taking off the prickles.
4. The macroura, has five toes both on the hind and fore feet; his tail is very long, and the prickles are elevated. He is a native of Asia the East Indies.