THE HEDGEHOG IN NORWAY. 67 



This animal is not easily captured. It is generally 

 run down by dogs, while it is often shot. Pitfalls are 

 dug for it in vain, unless very carefully guarded round 

 the edges, so that when the brute has tumbled in, it 

 cannot get out again. Some are taken in the common 

 steel trap, but the trap is not baited ; it is simply placed 

 in the track of the animal, which accidentally passes 

 over it, and is caught. Considerable care must be 

 observed in handling the trap, so that the naked hand 

 may not touch it ; gloves are, therefore, necessary, for 

 the glutton has a very keen scent, and will avoid a 

 trap that has been touched by a human hand. 



Although the skin of this creature is valuable, it is 

 so given to shedding blood, and its habits are so de- 

 structive, that it is much wished in Norway that it 

 should be exterminated. 



The hedgehog (Erinaceus Europceus) is now but 

 rarely seen in Norway. It is, in fact, so scarce, that 

 when a specimen was required for the Zoological Mu- 

 seum at Christiania, it was necessary to send to Ger- 

 many for one. It is called in Norway pind-sviin ; the 

 name of the female is pind-so ; its ancient Norse name 

 was busJce-dyvel, or bushy devil. It feeds on worms, 

 slugs, beetles, eggs, wild berries, and vegetables. The 

 female brings forth from two to four young at a birth. 

 The young are born naked and blind, and are covered 

 with short, soft spines, which soon become hard and 

 strong. 



It is said in Norway that the hedgehog drives away 

 the bear from his den in the following manner : 

 On coming to the bear's "hie," the hedgehog enters 

 it, at which piece of presumption Bruin is overwhelmed 

 with astonishment and rage. He puts his nose to the 



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