HEDGEHOG. 119 



the central incisors long and stout, the lateral small, 

 as are the canine teeth, which have two roots. In 

 the upper jaw are seven, and in the lower four 

 grinders, on each side. The spines are cylindrical, 

 hollow, marked externally by rings, internally by 

 transverse dissepiments ; they are attenuated at the 

 base, and at the distal extremity taper to a fine 

 point ; their lower half is pale horn-colour, the rest 

 dark-brown, excepting the tip, which is pale and 

 transparent. The stiff hairs of the lower parts are 

 yellowish-grey, the woolly brownish-grey. The 

 claws are rather long, moderately curved, and much 

 compressed. The female has six mammae on each 

 side, the first anterior to the axilla, and the last in- 

 guinal. 



The convex back, conical muzzle, and short tail 

 of this animal, suggesting an analogy to the domes- 

 tic pig, have obtained for it the names of Urchin 

 and Hedgehog. During the day it reposes in its 

 retreat, generally under the roots of an old tree, or 

 on a hedge-bank, or in the crevice of a rock or 

 wall, and at night comes abroad in search of its 

 food, which consists for the most part of insects, 

 snails, slugs, and worms, as well as reptiles. But 

 it also eats the roots of various herbaceous plants, 

 fruits, and especially apples that have fallen from 

 the trees, and is said to destroy eggs, occasionally 

 even entering hen-houses for the purpose ; and, in 

 short, has some title to be considered as omnivorous, 

 like its more illustrious namesake. Although its 

 motions are too slow to enable it to escape from an 



