62 ERINACEID^. 



to approach the form of that of some of the smaller Carnivora. They 

 are only found in the old continent. 



Gen. Erinaceus, Linnaeus. 



3 3 



Char. — Dental formula, according to Owen, incisors ; prsemolars 



o — o 



: molars ; total 36 teeth. Upper middle incisors distant ; 



2—2 3—3 . ^ 



lower ones procumbent ; no canines ; molai's with the crown square, 

 tuberculate ; snout, lengthened ; ears, moderate ; tail, very short ; body, 

 densely covered with spines on the back and sides, with hairs and 

 bristles beneath. 



The skin of the back is furnished with muscles which enable the 

 animal to roll itself into a ball, so as to present spines on every side. 

 Hedgehogs hybernate in cold countries, but do not burrow, concealing 

 themselves under leaves, in hollow trees, ditches, and under thick bushes. 

 They feed chiefly on insects, also on slugs, frogs, mice, snakes, and eggs. 

 They have even been accused of killing young leverets ; and are said at 

 times to partake of vegetable food. They are nocturnal in their habits. 

 The female produces as many as six, or seven young sometimes, at a birth. 



85. Erinaceus coUaris. 

 Gray, figd. Hardwicke, 111. Ind. Zool. — Blyth, Cat. 236. — Probably 

 E. Grayii, Bennett. 



The North-Indian Hedgehog. 



Descr. — Ears long ; spines irregularly interwoven, apiculated with 

 yellow, and ringed white and black ; or white on the basal half, and jet- 

 black on the upper half, some with the base and tip black, white in the 

 middle ; ears, and chin as far as the ears, white ; belly and feet pale -brown. 



Length, 8 to 9 inches ; tail, -^^ih.^. 



This hedgehog is found in the Korth-west Provinces of India, the 

 Punjab, and Sindh. It is stated to occur in the Doab, i.e., between the 

 Jumna and Ganges, but I have only seen it myself west of the Jumna, 

 about Hansi and Hissar. Adams states that it is found in the Deccan, 

 and also in the lower Himalayan ranges. Hutton, who observed it at 

 Bhawalpore, states that " their food consists of insects, chiefly of a small 

 beetle of the genus Blaps ; also of lizards, snails, &c." " They are," 

 says he, "reraax'kably tenacious of life, bearing long abstinence with 

 apparent ease." 



