250 



THE HEDGEHOG 



the white ferret is apt to degenerate and lose its savage nature in 

 this country. Warreners, therefore, prefer the English ferret, a 

 cross between the white ferret and polecat ; this animal is darker in 

 colour, smaller in size, hardier in constitution, more active inhabits, 

 and keener in ferocity. On account of the fierceness in attack of 

 the ferret, great care must be exercised to insure its safe custody. 

 HEDGEHOG (Erinaceus europ&us). This well-known animal does 

 not mount fruit 'trees and descend with apples, pears, etc., stuck 

 upon its bristles, or suck cows and injure their udders ; but is un- 

 doubtedly an enemy to young game and rabbits, and even to young 



FIG. 140. HEDGEHOG AT WORK. 



poultry. It also feeds largely on ground insects or their larvae, 

 and has been employed to some extent for destroying cockroaches, 

 etc., in dwellings, bakeries, plant-houses, etc., with more or less 

 satisfactory results. 



The hedgehog (Fig. 140) suffers no inconvenience from the croton 

 bug or German cockroach (Phylodrovria germanica), oriental cock- 

 roach (PeHpluneta orientalis), and house 'cricket (Gryllus domesti- 

 cus), and Pallas remarks that this animal can eat hundreds of 



