118 



I MVERSITY 



THE HEDGEHOG 



Erinaceus Europseus. LINN. 

 PLATE V. 



^or/ ; prickles of moderate length. 



Erinaceus Europseus, Linn. Syst. Nat. I. 75 ; Desmar. Mammal. 

 147; Jen. Brit. Vert. An. 19 ; Bell, Brit. Quadr. 76, 



THE Hedgehogs are characterized as a genus by 

 having six incisors in each jaw, the middle ones 

 very long ; the body covered with spines instead of 

 hair ; the tail very short ; and all the feet furnished 

 with five toes. Only a single species occurs in 

 this country. It is a small animal, measuring 

 about ten inches in length, with a conical muzzle, 

 an oblong body, convex above ; the feet so short as 

 almost to allow the abdomen to touch the ground ; 

 the ears very short, broad, and rounded ; the eyes 

 of moderate size ; the upper parts and sides covered 

 with sharp prickles ; the face and lower parts with 

 stiff and woolly hairs. There are thirty-six teeth ; 



