HEDGE-HOG. 01 



In regard to its senses, it appears from the observations of the 

 late Colonel J. Whyte that although the power of vision is not 

 very highly developed, hearing and smell are extremely acute. 

 From observations made by the same gentleman on a captive 

 specimen, it would seem that these animals keep on the move 

 throughout the night, travelling the whole time at the rate of 

 some six miles an hour in search of their prey, except of course 

 during those intervals in which they are engaged in devouring 

 the latter. 



With regard to the breeding-habits of Hedge-hogs, some 

 difference of opinion has prevailed among naturalists. Writing 

 from observations made on continental specimens, Blasius 

 states that the number of young produced at a birth varies 

 from four to eight, and that these are usually born during the 

 months of July or August. On the other hand, Bell writes 

 that " the female produces from two to four young ones early 

 in the summer, though the difference in their size in the 

 autumn, when they are often found by sporting dogs, would 

 seem to point out a somewhat variable period of birth." The 

 latter discrepancy was explained by Dr. Dobson, who ascer- 

 tained that a second litter is often produced in the autumn ; 

 and the same observer further came to the conclusion that the 

 number of young in a litter does not exceed four, in which 

 respect he is in accord with Bell. Mr. Harting, however, in 

 an interesting paper published in the Journal of the Royal 

 Agricultural Society iox 1892, under the title of "Vermin of 

 the Farm," states that the number of young in a litter is more 

 frequently five or six, and that he has known two instances 

 where seven were produced. The period of gestation does 

 not exceed a month. At birth the young are blind, and 

 covered with soft and flexible white spines, which, however, 

 soon harden and assume their adult coloration. The young 

 are bom in a comfortable, well-roofed nest of dried leaves, 



