’ 
THE HEDGEHOG. 445 
upon the back, and are clothed with hair of a more or less dense character, according to 
the particular species. In every species, however, the hair is of a peculiar character, and 
is intermixed with a goodly number of tolerably stiff hairs of a bristly character. 
The food of the Hedgehog consists chiefly of insects, worms, snails, and similar 
creatures, but it is of essentially carnivorous taste, and is in no wise particular what the 
kind of food which it eats, provided that it be of an animal character. 
These details of form and habit are common to all the Hedgehogs ; and the other 
peculiarities of the Erinacea, as these animals are learnedly named, will be mentioned in 
connexion with the two species that will be figured and described in these pages. 
The Lonc-kEARED HrpGEnoc derives its name from the exceeding dimensions of its 
ears, which project from its head in such a manner as to give to the animal avery porcine 
aspect. This species is found in Siberia and in all the eastern regions of Asiatic Russia, 
and has also been captured in Egypt. It is a smaller animal than the common Hedgehog 
of Europe, but is very variable in its dimensions, according to the locality in which it is 
found. The limbs are comparatively long and slender, and the long hair that clothes the 
lower portions of the body is extremely fine in its texture. The array of prickly spines 
that guard its back does not extend so far as in the European species, and are of a rather 
peculiar colouring. At the base, each spine is marked with a whitish ring, the centre is 
brown, and the tip is tinted with yellow. The colour of the eye is bluish-grey. 
The common HrpcEnoG, Hepcn-pPic, or URCHIN, is one of the most familiar of our 
indigenous mammalia, being found in every part of Great Britain which is capable of 
affording food and shelter. 
The hard round spines which cover the upper part of its body are about an inch in 
length, and of a rather peculiar shape, which is well represented in the accompanying 
sketch. This form is wonderfully adapted to meet the peculiar objects which the spine is 
intended to fulfil, as will be seen in the following account. 
The spine, which is here given, is supposed to be lying nearly horizontally upon the 
back of the animal, a position which it assumes whenever the Hedgehog 
chooses to relax the peculiar muscle which governs the spines, and 
which seems to retain the creature in its coiled attitude. The point of |= y=". 
the quill or spine is directed towards the tail. It will be seen that the 
quill is not unlike a large pin, being sharply pointed at one extremity, 
and furnished at the other with a round, bead-like head, and rather 
abruptly bent near the head. If the skin be removed from the Hedgehog, the quills are 
seen to be pinned, as it were, through the skin, being retained by their round heads, which 
are acted upon by the peculiar muscle which has already been mentioned. 
Tt is evident, therefore, that whenever the head of the quill is drawn backward by the 
contraction of the muscle, the point of the quill is erected in proportion to the force 
which is exerted upon the head, so that when the animal is rolled up, and the greatest 
tension is employed, the quills stand boldly out from the body, and present the bayonet- 
like array of points in every direction. 
These curiously formed spines are useful to the Hedgehog for other purposes than the 
very obvious use of protecting the creature from the attacks of its foe. They are 
extremely elastic, as is found to be the case with hairs and quills of all descriptions, and 
the natural elasticity is increased by the sharp curve into which they are bent at their 
insertion into the skin. Protected by this defence, the Hedgehog is enabled to throw 
itself from considerable heights, to curl itself into a ball as it descends, and to reach the 
ground without suffering any harm from its fall. A Hedgehog has been seen repeatedly 
to throw itself from a wall some twelve or fourteen feet in height, and to fall upon the 
hard ground without appearing even to be inconvenienced by its tumble. On reaching 
the ground, it would unroll itself, and trot off with perfect unconcern. 
The thorn-studded skin of this animal is not without its use even to mankind, and is 
still employed for various useful purposes. 
In some parts of the country it is used in weaning calves, and is an infallible mode 
of effecting that object. When the farmer desires to wean the young calf, he fixes a 
SPINE OF HEDGEHOG. 
