Individual Variation of the Common Hedgehog. 543 



''In size and colour similar to E. e. occidentalism but the skull 

 may be distinguished bj the frontal processes of the pre- 

 maxill^, which, although extending backward half the length 

 of the nasals, end in a sharply defined point." In " E. e. occi- 

 dentalis " the same processes are stated to be provided " with 

 a blunt or nearly square posterior termination, and seldom 

 showing a sharply defined point or angle." The difference 

 is consequently of little importance ; but as the " type 



locality " of " E. e. typi 



IS 



given as " Upsala, 



Sweden,^' I felt interested, and considered it the duty of an 

 Upsala zoologist to examine the skulls of hedgehogs from the 

 nearest vicinity of Upsala. I found then at once that the 

 processes in question are subject to so much variation, that 

 it is impossible to use them for the distinction of even local 

 varieties; subspecific value caimot on any account be attri- 

 buted to them. The differences are merely individual, as 

 may be seen from the accompanying three figures. Fig. a, 



Figures of front part of three skulls of Erinaceus eu7-opcsuSy Linn., 

 from the vicinity of Upsala, Sweden. 



drawn, as are also the others, with the help of a camera 

 lucida, of the natural size, is taken from the skull of an animal 

 caught in the parish just outside the town of Upsala, but 

 should, I suppose, be regarded as belonging to the " sub- 

 species " ^^ occidentalis.'''' Fig. c, from the same neighbour- 

 hood, is a " typicus,^'' and fig. h intermediate. The series 



