148 ORDER IV. 



and dark back, closely beset with slender spines. 

 These bring us to the 



Genus ERINACEUS, or the Hedgehogs. Dent, 

 form, incis. , can. ^-^, mol. f-f = 34 Desm. 

 Body covered with spines; the skin of the back 

 provided with muscles, which enable the animal to 

 roll itself into the form of a ball, offering the points 

 of the spines in every direction ; the tail is very 

 short; the middle incisors very long. They are 

 nocturnal, live on larvse, snails, and grubs, but also 

 eggs and fruit ; they can devour quantities of can- 

 tharides, without causing the least uneasiness, while 

 a single one is sufficient to injure if not to kill a 

 dog or cat. They are torpid in winter. Hedgehogs 

 belong to the Old Continent. Beside the 



Erinaceus Europceus, or Common Hedgehog, 

 generally known, there is a second, but rarely 

 found in Europe, and distinguished from the other 

 by a vivid, rufous, coarse fur; the spines on the 

 back not extending so low on each side, and the 

 muzzle shorter : it might be denominated E. cani- 

 ceps. We have met with this animal on the edge 

 of the forest of Soignies, near Brussels. 



There are enumerated besides, E. auritus, or 

 Long-eared Hedgehog; E.frontalis, White Fronted; 

 E. spatanguS) Himalayan ; E. concolor, Trebisond ; 

 E. Grayii, &c. See History of British Quadru- 

 peds, Vol. III. Naturalist's Library, where the Bri- 

 tish species is described. 



Genus GYMNURA. Oriental Hedgehogs. Have 

 a long unarmed tail, and plantigrade feet ; the snout 



