and then some from this old codger. Porky is a strong lad on the defensive.
When attacked, he rolls himself into a ball with every one of his needle-like quills standing upright, while his tender nose is hidden safely between his stout paws. In this state he resembles an over-ripe chestnut burr, and woe betide the assailant who is foolish enough to attack a thoroughly aroused porcupine.
Few dogs have sense enough to let him alone, and even the clever puma and lynx are foolhardy enough to insist on making a meal off our friend in times of stress. A lynx was found dead with a porcupine quill thrust through his eye, the point of which had entered his brain, causing instant death.
The porcupine cannot throw his quills, as many suppose. Each quill is minutely barbed and it adheres viciously to whatever comes in contact with it. Those tenacious quills thickly sown in the tender mouth of a creature prohibit eating and drinking and a horrible death awaits the unfortunate victim from hunger and thirst.
The porcupine is a denizen of the woods. He
