THE NATURAL HISTORY 



[LETT. 



would have but a bad time of it in the critical moment of par- 

 turition : but it is plain that they soon harden ; for these little 

 pigs have such stiff' prickles on their backs and sides as would 

 easily have fetched blood, had they not been handled with 

 caution. Their spines are quite white at this age; and they 

 have little hanging ears, which I do not remember to be dis- 

 cernible in the old ones. They can, in part, 'at this age draw 

 their skin down over their faces ; but are not able to contract 

 themselves into a ball, as they do, for the sake of defence, 

 when full grown. The reason, I suppose, is, because the curious 

 muscle that enables the creature to roll itself up in a ball was 

 not then arrived at its full tone and firmness. Hedge-hogs 

 make a deep and warm hyberaaculum with leaves and moss, 



in which they conceal themselves for the winter: but I never 

 could find that they stored in any winter provision, as some 

 quadrupeds certainly do. 



I have discovered an anecdote with respect to the fieldfare 

 (Turdug pilaris), which I think is particular enough: this bird, 

 though it sits on trees in the day-time, and procures the greatest 

 part of its food from whitethorn hedges ; yea, moreover, builds 

 on very high trees, as may be seen by the " Fauna Suecica," yet 

 always appears with us to roost on the ground. They are seen 

 to come in flocks just before it is dark, and to settle and nestle 

 among the heath on our forest. And besides, the larkers, in 

 dragging their nets by night, frequently catch them in the wheat 

 stubbles ; while the bat-fowlers, who take many redwings in 

 the hedges, never entangle any of this species. Why these birds, 

 in the matter of roosting, should differ from all their congeners, 



