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

at his quiet enemy. These quills must be
drawn out, and she sooner the better for
the sufferer, as they cannot be removed by
the dog and will lead to frightful suppura-
ton, and usually to death. Wildcats and
even the cougar or American lion are said
to have been found dead with quill-flled
mouths, the result of hunger-inspired at
tacks on the porcupine. These quills,
largest and most numerous on the back and
rump, are the natural covering Of certain
parts of the animal, and, like the intermlng-
ling hairs, spring from folicles in the crea-
lures skin. They are readily reproduced
and are undoubtedly intended for a pro-
lection of an otherwise delenceless animal.
They may be readily disengaged from the
integument, and the removal quickly fol-
lows the tension made on them after the
point of the quill is driven into the flesh
and is held there by the barbs, small and
numerous, which press backward against
the penetrated skin or other integument.
| am thus explicit and perhaps unnecessa-
rily diffuse, as read by those who have ex-
amined the arrangement, because want to
mention a mooted question.
There are still many who firmly believe
that porcupines throw their quilts, and,
though it is almost too simple subject to
discuss, word may not come amiss.
There are many intelligent people who
could not be brought near to one Of these
inofensive animals, firmly believing that
the creature has the power of shooting the
quills to quite distance and with great
accuracy. l have been told repeatedly,
and by men of undoubted veracity, that
they had often seen men, fences, dogs and
trunks of trees filled with the thrown quills
of the hedgehog. They were simply tell
ing what they had often heard and had
come to sincerely believe,
Like one
Who, having unto truth, by telling OF 1t,
Made such sinner of his memory
To credit his own lie.
These people would be hard to convince
of their error under any circumstances, and
yet l have much sympathy for them, for
there are numerous stories at present going
the rounds which are much more ridiculous
The porcupine when assailed elevates its
back and makes the skin tense, so that the
auilIs are erect and in the best position for
defence. This position is followed, when
an attack is made on the creature, by quick
elevations or jerks upward and sideways OF
head and body, accompanied by fopplngs
of its armed tail, which are made to infiict
injury on the enemy, the animal in the
meantime looking about for an advantage
or chance for safety.
There is no other time when a wild ami
NAL will fight sit will when found in COM
pany with its young, and the efforts of a
female porcupine to protect her single young
one called forth my admiration. The old
one kept its front toward its offspring
which it placed beside log and partially
covered with its fore parts, and, in addition
to its bristling armor, it also used its teeth
savagely biting stick when pushed away
This old one weighed 2l pounds, and it'
stomach contained over ] pounds Of greer
vegetable material, ground up as fine a:
good teeth could chew it. The small on'
weighed pounds, and its paunch was dis
tended with the same food
The senses of the porcupine are evidently
very dull or else it is conscious of no dan
ger, deeming its protection sufficient guar
antee for its safety. | have more THAI
once discovered them by the dropping o
bark or acorns from the limbs where they
were feeding, and have then watched thei
actions for some time as they continued t.
feed, wholly ignoring my presence. L
shot at when feeding in large tree, say 6I
feet from the ground, they are not easily
brought down, and when resting on limt
three or four inches in diameter, whicl
protects the head and vitals, good many
Shots are required to bring it off its perch
The auills offer strong protection agains
anything but very coarse shot, and eveI
with Bs it is not readily dislodged, as i
possesses great vitality and will hang til
the last gasp One that was well riddled
after falling fully 20 feet, escaped me in !
piece of dense underground.
Having a true hunters appetite, witt
addition of great amount of curiosity,
have been in the habitof testing the edible
qualities of many of the wild birds anC
mammals not generally in demand. Among
others tried some porcupine stew, being
led to believe that it would be palatabl,
and gamy, as it is said TO be quite Otter
eaten by our red brothers. Now, wood
chuck, coon and possum 90 well, and
have nothing particular to say against some
other animals not generally chosen, but a
to porcupine, excuse me. After cookins
for five hours, and still finding it not done
it was thrown to the dogs, which discree
animals raised their noses to heaven anC
gave dismal howl.
In nearly every specimen that l hav
examined, the intestine as well as stomach
were found to be suffering from theravage
OF a peculiar parasite, and, strange to say
these entozoans of singular habit wer
always found attacking the external linins
of the tissues, and were not found within
the alimentary canals of the otherwise ap
parently healthy animal.
In conclusion, word in regard to hedge
hogs. This animal is only found on tn,
Eastern Continent and islands. 1t belong
to the order insectivora, and has teetl
formed much after the fashion Of the mole
The porcupinc, so often incorrectly calle,
hedgehog, belongs to the Rodentia, or gnaw
ers, and its teeth are formed more lik
those of the rat squirrel and woodchuck
II is several times the size of the littl
hedgehog. The name hedgehog, there
fore, in no way applies to our American
porcupine.
A Christian.