68 THE NATUEALIST IN NORWAY. 



body of his diminutive visitor, to discover what it is. 

 The hedgehog, displeased at this impertinent curiosity, 

 bristles up, and pricks the bear's nose. Wherever the 

 bear moves, if he lies down, if he stands upon his hind 

 legs, if he carefully places one paw on the ground be- 

 fore the other, he comes in contact with the sharp 

 spines of the hedgehog. If he goes to sleep, the 

 hedgehog crawls on to his huge carcass, and darts its 

 prickles into the bear's most tender parts, causing him 

 to have unpleasant dreams. This sort of treatment 

 enrages the bear beyond measure; the den soon be- 

 comes too hot to hold him, and, with a howl of mingled 

 rage and despair, he rushes headlong forth, leaving the 

 hedgehog in quiet possession of the premises. 



