Do porcupines really shoot their quills at their enemies?
There are two denizens of the woods that are peculiar in their means of defending themselves. One is the skunk, who will put up a big stink when cornered. The other is the porcupine, which looks like a walking pincushion.Most of us have come across the skunk’s calling card in the country, but I’ll bet you’ve never encountered a porcupine except in a zoo. So I’ll just have to tell you: this little charmer does not launch itty-bitty guided missiles at its foes. In fact, the animal’s first line of protection against an attacker is to run like the dickens in the opposite direction. But if cornered, the porcupine will turn its rear end to its enemy–mooned by a porcupine!–and whack it with its quill-covered tale. The other party usually gets the point. Question: Why does “knuckle down” mean get to work? These days the workplace in many places is going through some drastic changes. For example, in the United States the dress code in many industries is becoming decidedly more casual. But emp