38 MAMMALS. 



a sworn foe of this animal. 1 Another advantage of the coat 

 of spines is that its elasticity is sufficient to break any fall. 

 This it was that formerly lent weight to the slander that 

 the hedgehog was given to climbing fruit-trees and bearing 

 off the fruit impaled on its spines. It has a curious habit 

 of taking up its quarters in particular gardens, where, if 

 unmolested, it will remain for many months. A young 

 hedgehog had taken up its residence in this way in the 

 garden of a house in Cornwall where I was recently stay- 

 ing, and it would run about the gravel walks all night, 

 lying in hiding during the day. At last the owner of the 

 house bought some poultry, and it was all I could do to 

 prevent his throwing the unfortunate hedgehog into a 

 neighbouring stream. I managed, however, to persuade 

 him to deposit it in a market -garden close by, where I 

 have no doubt it did good service. 



Early naturalists were pleased to weave romance round 

 the birth and nourishment of young hedgehogs, which are, 

 needless to say, as those of other mammals. The hedge- 

 hog pairs for life, and the young five, six, or, according 

 to Mr Harting, even seven in number are born early in 

 August in a roomy nest of dead leaves. 



When first born they are blind, the spines being, more- 

 over, white and soft, but soon assuming the colour and 

 hardness of maturity. Save by gipsies, who 

 roast it " in its jacket," the flesh of the hedge- 

 hog is not eaten in this country, though it is a favourite 

 dish in the French provinces, where, according to some 

 writers, two species are recognised. 



The appearance of the hedgehog is unique among British 



mammals, nor is any one likely to confuse it with any 



other beast, unless it be with the Australian 



ppe ^ ance> echidnas, to which it certainly bears some 



superficial resemblance. Rather less than a 



foot long, the arched body is covered with dull white, 



sharp spines, an inch or more in length, and having a dark 



1 See the ' Zoologist,' January 1888, p. 10. 



