58 INSECTIVOROUS MAMMALS. 



Such forms, as are found in the districts which come under cur 

 heading, have evidently become adapted to a dry climate and surround- 

 ings, some being found even in such places as the Ordos Desert. 



One of the animals, best known to every English school boy is the 

 hedgehog. Probably most of us have kept one or more of these in- 

 teresting creatures in captivity at some time or other. In North China 

 there are some four species described, being found in very widely sep- 

 arated areas. In Tientsin and on the Chihli plain generally occurs a 

 hedgehog, which in general appearance closely resembles that of Europe. 

 The two are about equal in size. The Chihli species was first described 

 under the name of Erinaceus dealbatus by Swinhoe from a specimen 

 from Peking. Amongst other characteristics it has a certain proportion 

 of wholly white spines. The same species occurs in Northern Shan- 

 tung, though by one observer the animal from this district was des- 

 cribed as distinct. 



Hitherto no hedgehog has been described from Shansi, but across 

 the Yellow River in Shensi and the Ordos two species occur. Of these 

 the Ordos form), E. miodon was described from specimens secured by 

 M. P. Anderson and myself in 1908. The chief distinguishing features 

 of this species are some dental differences, and the fact that there are 

 no wholly white spines present. This hedgehog is fairly common in 

 the sandy areas, where it feeds upon black-beetles, as shown by the 

 examination of the stomachs of several specimens. 



From the Ordos Border to the Wei Valley the hedgehog is again 

 wanting, but in the latter district it reappears under the name of E. 

 hughi. This species is very much darker in colour than the Ordos form, 

 a characteristic that one might expect, considering the different sur- 

 roundings. 



E. hanensis is another species described by Matschie from some- 

 where in this direction. It has a fair sprinkling of wholly white spines. 



When in Manchuria I secured a hedgehog, doubtless E. orien- 

 talis, in the forests on the banks of the Sungaree River. This specimen 

 had a good proportion of wholly white spines. 



It. might be imagined that so prickly a customer as the hedgehog 

 could have but few enemies, but judging from the number of remains 

 I have found, it would seem that it has a good many. It is well known 

 that a fox will tackle and kill a hedgehog. In so doing he pushes his 

 nose under the hedgehog and tosses it into the air. This makes the 

 hedgehog uncurl, and, before it can curl up again, the fox has nipped it 

 in the unprotected vitals. In Europe the gypsies are notoriously fond 

 of hedgehog flesh. I found this to be the case with the woodsmen in 

 Manchuria. In both cases the animal is prepared for food by encasing 



