TAIL OF WOE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 221, 19 September 1938, Page 7

TAIL OF WOE.

25,000 AGONY TIPS.

THE FRETFUL PORCUPINE.

DOES NOT "SHOOT" HIS QUILLS

Contrary to popular belief, a porcupine does not "shoot" his quills at an enemy. The enemy stupidly helps himself to a mess of agony. The porcupine's quills are fastened loosely to his body and when he slaps around with his tail in self-defence a few quills are thrown a distance. He does not control their ejection. When attacked he arches his back, erects his quills and sticks his head under a log or puts his nose between his forepaws. Then he waves his tail furiously and the Lord help whatever flesh it strikes. His sharp, barbed quills penetrate and stay in, causing excruciating pain. His quills come away at a touch. They are barbed at the tip and cannot easily b« loosened ■ once they are embedded. Bears, panthers, foxes, wolves, deer and do«s in attacking porcupines have gotten their faces and throats full of quills and, unable to disengage them, have died. An average adult "porky" may have up to 25,000 quills! Porcupines feed on the bark of trees, such as everjrreems and hemlocks. Certain States therefore offer bounties for their extermination. On the other hand, some Canadian provinces protect them, for their flesh is edible and can be the means of savins' a lost and weaponless man. The "porky" is a slow] movinff animal and can be easily killed, with a dub. He is not a strict vegetarian, despite his fondness for the barks and shrubs. He runs great risks to secure anything that has <« salty or sweaty flavour. He will gnaw axe handles, shovels, strips of leather, even pouohes, or anything that has been handled.

—Henmng Lawrence, in the "New York Herald Tribune."