THE HEDGEHOG 251 



cantharides without suffering from them, whilst a single one of 

 these acrid insects will cause horrid torments in cats and dogs. It 

 may be kept in any wire-netted garden or pleasure grounds, where 

 no harm appears to result to useful plants or crops, and coleopter- 

 ous insects certainly are not nearly as much in evidence. Semi- 

 wild places, however, are more to the hedgehog's taste ; and if 

 male and female are introduced they increase, four or five young 

 being produced at a birth, and these soon become covered with 

 prickles. The hedgehog wraps itself in a warm nest composed of 

 moss, dried grass and leaves on the approach of winter, and remains 

 torpid till the return of spring. When, therefore, the animal is 

 kept in captivity such material must be provided in a secluded 

 and dry place for its hibernating use. 



If kept in close quarters, the hedgehog must be* properly fed 

 with flesh raw or cooked fallen fruits, roots of plantain, milk- 

 sopped bread, etc. When placed in a building for the destruction 

 of cockroaches, feed sparingly, but always afford it a supply of 

 water in a shallow vessel, introducing the hedgehog in the evening 

 and withdrawing in the morning to a place where not likely to be 

 visited by terriers or other dogs. Cats give hedgehogs a wide 

 berth, but some cats are adepts at capturing and eating house 

 crickets. 



