1. H y s t r i x p i l o s u s . (Catesby.) Canada Porcupine.
Genus Hystrix. Linn. Eretliizon. F. Cuvier.
Hystrix pilosus, Americanus. Catesby, Carol. App., p. 30. .An. 1741.
The Porcupine, from Hudson’s Bay. Edward's, Birds, p. 52. Fig.
Cavia Hudsonis. K l e i n , Quadr., p. 51. An. 1751.
Hystrix Hudsonius. Buisson, Regn. A n ., p. 148. An. 1756.
Hystrix dorsata. Linn., Syst., p. 57- An. 1767. -
L’Urson. Buff on, vol. xii. p. 426. t. 55. An. 1776.
Canada Porcupine. Forster, Phil. Trans., vol. lxii. p. 374. Pennant, Quadr., vol. ii. p. 126.
Arct. Zool., vol. i. p. 109.
The Porcupine. Hearne, Journal, p. 381. Hutchins, MSS.
Erethizon Dorsatum. F. Cuvier, Mem. de Mus., vol. ix. p. 413.
Hystrix dorsata. Sabine, Franklin's Joum., p. 664. Harlan, Fauna, p. 190.
Canada Porcupine. Godman, Nat. Hist., vol. ii. p. 160. The figure represents only four toes on the
hind feet, instead of five.
Cawquaw. Crée Indians. Ooketook. Esquimaux.
[67.]
This sluggish and unsightly animal early attracted the notice of travellérs to the
northern parts of America. Buffon invented for it the appellation “ urson,” by
which he intended to recall the memory of Henry Hudson, the illustrious but
unfortunate discoverer of the country, where the animal chiefly abounds, and also
to denote its spiny armature, resembling that of the common hedgehog {l’hérisson).
Linné gave it the specific name of dorsata, but I have preferred Catesby’s prior
epithet of pilosus, which seems to be equally, if not more, appropriate.
The Canada porcupine is found on the banks of the Mackenzie, as high aa
latitude 67°, and, according to American writers, it ranges as far south as
latitude 37°. It is said to be very rare in Virginia ; but to be numerous in somë
parts of Kentucky ; and it is reported to have multiplied greatly, of late years, near
Oneida Lake, in the state of New York*. In the fur countries,- it is most numerous
in sandy districts, covered with the pinus Banksiana, on the bark of which it
delights to feed. It also eats the bark of the larch and spruce firs, and the buds
of various kinds of willow. In the more southern districts, it is said to feed chiefly
on the bark and leaves of the pinus Canadensis and tilia glabra, and to be fond of
sweet apples and young maize, which it eats in a sitting posture, holding them to
its mouth with the fore-paws. It travels slowly, and Hearne remarks, that “ the
Indians, going with packèts from fort to fort, often see them in the trees, but not
having occasion for them at the time, leave them until their return, and should
Cozzens, Lyceum Nat. Hist., New York, vol. i. p. 190.
their absence be a week or ten days, they are sure to find them within a mile of the
place where they had seen them before.” Mr. Hutchins observes, that, “ in walking,
the tail is drawn along the snow, making a deep track, which is often the
means of betraying the animal; but its haunts are most readily discovered by the
barked trees on which it has fed, which, if done the same winter, is a sure sign that
the porcupine is near the spot. They are usually found on the branches, and, on
approaching them, they make a crying noise, like a child. The tree, being cut
down, the animal is despatched by only striking it on the nose.” It is readily
attacked by the Indian dogs, and soon killed, but not without injury to its assailants,
for its quills, which it erects when attacked, are rough, with minute teeth directed
backwards, that have the effect of rendering this seemingly weak and flexible
weapon a very dangerous one. Their points, which are pretty sharp, have no
sooner insinuated themselves into the skin of an assailant than they gradually bury
themselves, and travel onwards until they cause death, by wounding some vital
organ. These spines, which are detached from the porcupine by the slightest
touch, and probably by the will of the animal, soon fill the mouths of the dogs,
which worry it, and unless the Indian women carefully pick them out, seldom
fail to kill them. Wolves occasionally die from the same cause. The Canada
porcupine makes its retreat amongst the roots of an old tree, and is said to pass
much of its time in sleeping. When disturbed, it makes a whining or mewing
noise. It pairs in the latter end of September, and brings forth two young ones
in April or May. Its flesh, which tastes like flabby pork, is relished by the Indians,
but is soon nauseated by Europeans. The bones are often deeply tinged with a
greenish yellow colour. Like other animals, which feed on coarse vegetable substances,
it is much infested by intestinal worms. The quills or spines are dyed of
various bright colours by the native women, and worked into shot-pouches, belts,
shoes, and other ornamental articles of dress.
D E S C R I P T I O N .
Form.—Body thick and clumsy, back much arched in a reg ular curve from the nose to
the buttocks, when it droops more rapidly to the tail, which is very low. Legs very short..
Tail short, thick, rounded at the tip, and turned a little upwards. Nose flattish above, broad
and abrupt. There is a narrow naked margin round the nostrils, but there is no smooth
dividing line on the upper lip. Eyes lateral, very small, and round. Ears situated behind and
above the auditory opening,’ covered as thickly with fur as the neighbouring parts, and entirely
concealed by it. Incisors nearly as strong as .those of ;the beaver.. They curve forwards a
little so as to project beyond the nose, are convex anteriorly, narrower behind, and are not