The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1891-09-26
Cur Olio.
THE PORCUPINE.


persons living in wild and unsettled por-
tions of the Union east Of the Mississippi
river and north of 43o north latitude. To
the east it is getting scarce, and even in this
State is now very rarely taken south of APO
although formerly quite common here at
Kalamazoo, 1920 | am informed that it
is still found in some parts OF Northern
Pennsylvania, and, as is well known, 1T is
abundant in Maine, Northern New York,
Vermont and New Hampshire in the wilder
portions, while in Wisconsin and Michigan
north of 44o it is familiar rodent.
am not aware that the porcupine ever
feeds on any substance not vegetable, and,
therefore, cannot endorse assertions that it
will devour almost anything around camp.
His observations were undoubtedly made
during the winter months, as he embraces
old boot packs in the porcupines menu,
and as my notes were mostly made in the
spring and fall, it follows that [ may not
understand the predictions of this strange
creature at other times. That the animal
is mischievous and disposed, like colt, to
investigate and mutilate, is true, and this
characteristic may account for the habits
observed around camp, when it apparently
attacked anything available.
In careful dissections made upon both
Young and old specimens, have found the
stomach to contain only vegetable matter.
Leaves generally compose the fare from May
till August, and | doubt not that the ami
NAL could live entirely upon this diet.
The bill of fare is often varied with tender
bark of young trees and shrubs, and fire.
quently by bark not so tender, as have
seen them feeding on the inner bark Of the
white oak. In season the acorns Of this
oak furnish food for the needle-backs, and
in the fall l have shot them from immense
timber-land oaks fully IS feet from the
ground.
These oaks, all of so feet without limb,
and 30 inches in diameter, would seem in
surmountable to animals apparently so
cIumsily formed, but the unwieldy Great
ures scale the rough-barked trees with ease,
if not with the activity of a squirrel, at
least with much greater ease than the wood
chuck. The poreupine feeds largely on
grass and clover when it can get it, and in
this respect much resembles that other de-
structive rodent, the woodchuck, which
has come to almost entirely select clover
fields for his burrows, moving about as the
farmer shifts his crops from field to field.
1t is when the young are with the old
one that grass and the foliage or shrubs, as
well as roots, are chosen, for do not think
the young mount into trees of any size until
quite half grown; at least | have never met
with small ones in trees, nor have learned
of their being taken there. | have never
seen young so small that they were still
nursing, but have thrice taken them when
still in company with their mother, though
they had adopted vegetable diet. The
young are undoubtedly brought forth in
burrows though as to this | cannot attest.
At least they quickly hide in burrows when
disturbed, as do the old ones also, although,
if alone, the old ones evidently prefer hol-
low trees,
One place that know of where these
strange animals are to be found is in huge
hollow sycamore, intricately connected with
other and smaller trees by huge roots, which
contain labyrinth of passages. This syca-
more is so smooth that squirrel could
hardly mount it, yet the old porcupine has
been seen at the top. 1t always seemed to
me that the animal must have climbed to
the top by way of the hollow.
have once found two young in company
with the old one, and twice only one young.
The litter undoubtedly consists of at least
two and probably more, for do not know
of one species of Michigan rodents which
brings forth less than two, and generally
there are three or more in litter. The
young run along after the mother in search
for food, and are exact counterparts of the
parent when only eight to ten inches long.
At this length they are provided with
spines, and will throw themselves into a
defensive posture if an intruder comes sud
denly on the scene, as does kitten when
disturbed by dog.
The porcupine is a muscular, but very
clumsy animal With great strength, both
of jaw and limb, and undoubtedly capable
of making good defence if it were gifted
with activity and courage, it is as great a
coward as exists, and if prevented from
seeking safety in fight offers no offensive
Dub uOMH anu Walls lIt
expected onslaught with elevated back and
erected bristles. IF not molested it will,
upon the slightest chance being given it,
shuttle off to place of security. When in
this position, although not in shape like a
ball, it rests upon its feet, which are drawn
in under the body, with its head turned
down, offering the best position to repel
attack.
Against hunter this position does not
afford it safety, as smart blow with stick
will turn it heels up, when it may be quickly
despatched; but to dog or other animal
the defence is practically complete, and the
porcupine is as safe behind its impregnable
cheveaux de frise as if it was in its burrow
or in the top Of a tree.
Woe to the dog that ignorantly bites at
that animal in an attempt to worry it. The
result is mouthful of sharp, bearded spines
or quilts, from one to three inches long,
which are readily detached from the integu-
ment and as readily penetrate the lining of
the mouth and the nose of its luckless as
sailant.
Sometimes as many as fifty or more quills
may be found sticking in the mouth and
muzzle of an uneducated dog, which, mad
| dened with pain after his first mouthful,