Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 January 1892 — The Porcupine. [ARTICLE]

The Porcupine.

Who has not heard the backwoods hunter entertain his open-mouthed and equally as ignorant audience with stories of our “gentle and inoffensive” porcupine, whd “threw his quills until the dogs were covered and left in disgust, howling with pain,” or some other “bosh” to the same effect. How positively he makes t'ne assertion. There can be no doubt .that hunters of this ilk frequently say “bear” when they have seen nothing more formidable than a harmless “ground-hog.” Nature armored our porcupine in a manner that, when excited and with spines raised, woe to the quadruped or biped either, for that , matter, who comes in contact with this bundle of prickers. “Porky’s” body is covered with a thick layer of fat, in which the quills or spines are rather insecurely fastened; Each' spine has a set of minute barbs at the outer end. But touch a spine and it sticks, and can only be removed by force. A dog or fox that lacks experience and undertakes a meal at the porcupine’s expense usually ends by Ailing with spines not only his mouth, but his head and paws as well, and not unfrequently death results from his temerity.— Great Divide.