Manchester Memoirs, Vol. Ixiii. (19 19) No. 2a 13 



least equal authority, have stated that he does not* ; and I agree with 

 them. I have seen many nests of Hedgehogs dug out of rabbit-holes 

 when ferretting in winter ; but none (so far as I can recollect) has ever 

 been accompanied by a store of winter food.f It is on this account, no 

 doubt, that the animal's hybernation is by no means complete, and 

 that he sometimes leaves his winter nest and comes abroad, even on 

 cold days. Probably the fruit of various kinds which Hedgehogs have 

 been seen carrying on their spines has been intended by them rather 

 for immediate consumption than as winter sustenance. 



Several friends and correspondents — some excellent naturalists 

 among them — have advanced to me the argument that, as they have 

 kept many tame Hedgehogs and have never observed them even 

 attempting to transport fruit on their spines, the habit cannot be one 

 they practise in a state of nature. This argument is, I think, entirely 

 unsound. The habits of animals in nature and in confinement are 

 often different ; and, in this particular case, it may be urged that a 

 Hedgehog in confinement, being (in a way) at home, would hardly be 

 likely to feel a need to carry food home. 



From the foregoing, it becomes clear that there are, beyond doubt, 

 not a few cases, both ancient and modern, in which a Hedgehog has 

 been actually seen carrying objects impaled upon the spines upon its 

 back — in most cases various kinds of fruit : in one case, eggs of the 

 pheasant. Unfortunately, none of these observations (though made 

 by persons whose bona-fides is in little doubt) can be regarded as 

 wholly conclusive, all being to some extent second hand or made by 

 persons of little education. Nevertheless, taking them in the mass 

 and viewing them in conjunction with the very ancient and extremely- 

 persistent legend relating to the matter, it seems to me impossible 

 longer to doubt that, at times, at any rate, the animal really does 

 transport fruit in the way asserted. Some will, no doubt, attribute 

 this view to limitless credulity and lack of acute observing powers on 

 my part. Be that as it may, I have confessed openly the view I take 

 of the matter. 



The whole question can be finally set at rest only by the production 

 of further definite observations of the same kind as those quoted 

 above, and made by naturalists of recognised standing or, at least, by 

 persons of education. 



Will any reader come forward and assert that he has himself seen 

 a Hedgehog in the act of transporting objects stuck upon its spines, or 

 at least draw attention to further existing records of its having been 

 seen so to do ? 



* See, for instance, Macgillivray : Brit. Quads., p. 1 19 (1838). 



t Miss Lister's observation in reference to the medlars (see ante p. 12) looks, how- 

 ever, like an exception. 



