JIAUITS OF A HEUGEllOG IN DOMESTICATION. 1^3 



young specimenH went under it altogethei'. They 

 were seen occasionally ejecting short streams of 

 sand from the projecting tubes, and forming little 

 heaps of sand after the manner of Areimola 

 piscatoi'um. They sometimes came up out of the 

 sand, and moved horizontally forward with the wide 

 end of the tube foremost ; in the course of the night 

 they thus travelled six or seven inches, leaving a 

 rough track on the smooth surface of the sand. 

 Some left the tube, and died shortly afterwards ; 

 yet that does not seem to be their constant habit, 

 as they are often found dead within the tube. 



The grains of sand are ver^^ even on the outside 

 of the tube, while they project more or less on the 

 inside. A smooth surface may be got to face the 

 outside ; but there is every chance that the opposite 

 side of the grain may be angular, and hence the 

 rough inside of the wall. The animal, however, has 

 itself well protected from the rough surface by a 

 thick lining-membrane. 



Habits of a Hedgehog (Erinaceus europceiis) in 

 Domestication. 



[Rend 2.1th March, 181)0.] 



Many years ago I adopted a hedgehog as a pet, 

 and during the progress of its civilisation I had an 

 opportunity of becoming acquainted with some of 

 its habits. A short time after it came into my pos- 

 session it had four young ones. After the first 

 day they all unaccountably disappeared. There were 

 neither dogs, cats, nor rats in the house which 

 could be suspected of having taken them. Could 

 the mother have devoured her offspring ? I never 

 could solve the mystery. 



At first the animal was very shy, and seldom ven- 

 tured to unfold itself. Any noise caused it to curl 

 up more or less, according to the degree of alarm. 

 It did not seem to see objects at any considerable 

 distance, but a chirp or smart rap on the table 



