Of this animal there are several species. The common porcupine of
Europe is about two feet long, and covered with long spines or quills.
In defending itself, it lies on one side, and rolls over upon its
enemy. The quills of the American porcupine are used by the Indians in
ornamenting their dress.
_Curious Playmates._--We are told that Sir Ashton Lever had a tame
porcupine, a domesticated hunting leopard, and a Newfoundland dog,
which he used frequently to turn out together, to play in a green
behind his house. No sooner were the dog and leopard let loose, than
they began to chase the porcupine, who uniformly, at the outset, tried
to escape by flight, but when he found there was no chance of doing so,
he would thrust his head into some corner, and make a snorting noise,
and erect his spines. His pursuers, if too ardent, pricked their noses,
which made them angry; and in the quarrel which usually ensued, the
porcupine effected his escape.
Le Vaillant says that a wound from a porcupine's quill is difficult to
cure, from some poisonous quality it possesses; he mentions that a
Hottentot, who was pricked in the leg by one of these, was ill for
upwards of six months afterwards; and that a gentleman at the Cape kept
his bed for about four months, and nearly lost his limb, in consequence
of a wound inflicted by one of these animals.