PORCUPINE, a rodent of the family Hystricide. Porcupines are distinguished by the peculiar nature of the body-covering, which consists, especially on the back and haunches, of hairs specially modified to form the so-called quills, or dense, solid, spine-like structures. These quills are intermixed with bristles and stiff hairs, and in the American subfamily Synetherine are almost concealed beneath the hairy fur of the body. The incisor or front teeth number two in each jaw and spring from permanent pulps, so that they continue to grow throughout the lifetime of the animal as in the other members of the order. There are four molar teeth on each side of each jaw, exhibit ing complicated foldings of the enamel on both the internal and external sides; and sometimes they, like the incisors, continue to grow throughout life from persistent roots. The skull exhibits an infraorbital foramen of very large size. The muzzle is generally short and broad. The lip is divided and the ears short and rounded. The anterior feet possess four and the hinder feet five toes, all provided with strong, thick nails. The tongue is roughened or, as in the Javan porcupine, may be provided with horny plates or scales.
The family Hystricicke is divided into two groups, Histricina and Synetherina, or two sub families, Hystricincr and Sphingurince. The Hystricine or Old World true porcupines are terrestrial, and have imperfect clavicles and open rooted molar teeth. They fall into sev eral genera. Of these the most familiar is Hystrix, represented by the true porcupines. The common or crested porcupine, Hystrit cristata, found in southern Europe and in northern Africa, is the best-known species. The true porcupines have non-prehensile tails, which may be spiny or covered with scales or bristles. When fully grown the common porcupine meas ures nearly two feet in length, and some of its spines exceed one foot. The general color is a grizzled, dusky black. The upper part of its head and neck is furnished with long, light colored hairs, capable of being raised or de pressed at pleasure; and most parts of the back and sides are armed with spines, which are longest on the centre of the back. In their usual position they lie nearly flat upon the body, with their points directed backward; but when the animal is excited they are capable of being raised. The quills are loosely inserted in the skin, and may, on being violently shaken, be come detached—a circumstance which may probably have given rise to the purely fabulous statement that the animal possessed the power of actually ejecting its quills like arrows or darts at an enemy. These animals generally lead a solitary life, and inhabit burrows during the day, coming forth at night in search of food, which consists of vegetable matter. The
common species is quiet and peaceable, but shows no disposition to become familiar or domesticated. An Indian form (H. leucurus) resembles the crested porcupine, but is larger.
The genus Atherura, including three species, possesses a long scaly tail, which is terminated by a tuft of bristles. The species of this genus occur in the Malayan region and West Africa. The Atherura fasciculata, or brush-tailed porcu pine, is a familiar species of this genus. The Synetherince, or American tree-porcupines, are easily distinguished by their well-developed clavicles, molars with closed non-growing roots, usually prehensile tails, the feet with tubercu lated soles and the absence of the pollex. The three genera are confined to America.
The Canadian porcupine (Erethizon dor sata) is the best known, and is a robust animal with a short non-prehensile tail. It is about two and a half feet long; of a brownish color, mingled with white; the spines are about four to six inches long, concealed in the fur and at tached in a very slight manner to the skin, and, from being barbed at the tip with numerous small reversed points or prickles, they by de grees penetrate i very deeply into the flesh after having once pierced. it. Small and insignificant as these defensive weapons may appear, they are capable of severely injuring dogs, wolves indeed ndeed any animal that incautiously attempts to seize the porcupine. These spines or quills were much used among the Indians to orna ment different articles of dress; they dyed them various colors, in a very permanent manner. The Canada porcupine is found in the thickly wooded parts of northeastern United States and in Canada, the northernmost limit of its dis tribution being the shores of the Mackenzie River and the southernmost the high mountains of Pennsylvania. They feed on the barks of various trees, apples, corn, etc. Their flesh is said to be very unpalatable, resembling flabby pork. They pair about the latter end of Sep tember and the female brings forth two young in April or May.
• The genus Synetheres of South America to Mexico possesses a distinctive feature in the elongated prehensile tail, adapting it for an arboreal existence. They are the true tree por cupines. About 10 species of these animals are indigenous to America, the spines, as in the Canadian porcupine, being of much smaller size than in the Old World forms. In length the typical species of this genus averages one and one-half feet, the tail measuring about 10 inches.
Consult Stone and Cram, 'American Mam mals) (New York 1902) ; Merriam, 'Adiron dack Mammals' (New York 1884).