120 



HEDGEHOG. 



active enemy, and its power of inflicting injury 

 slight, it is furnished with the means of defending 

 itself against the aggression of more powerful ani- 

 mals ; for in cases of emergency it contracts itself, 

 and spreads out its spinous covering, so as to pre- 

 sent a uniformly impervious surface. In this state 

 it may be rolled or kicked about without receiving 

 injury, and very few of the best terriers will venture 

 to attack it, at least effectively. 



Sometimes it is introduced into gardens, where it 

 is useful by destroying the slugs and worms ; and 

 in the kitchens of many of the houses in London, 

 as related by Mr Bell, it is kept for the purpose of 

 devouring the cock-roaches by which they are in- 

 fested. It is easily domesticated, and in captivity 

 feeds on bread, vegetables, flesh, and such other 

 substances as are usually given to dogs or cats. 



In the end of autumn, the Hedgehog, without 

 laying up any store for the winter, betakes itself ta 

 its nest, which is composed of leaves of trees, dry 

 grass, and moss, rolls itself up into a ball, and fall- 

 ing into a state of torpidity, so remains until the 

 middle of spring. Early in the summer the young 

 are produced; they are generally three or four, 

 and are born blind. As to the absurd fables told 

 by Aristotle, Pliny, Buffon, and others, respecting 

 this animal, which has been alleged to carry off 

 fruits on its prickles, and to injure the udders of 

 cattle by sucking their teats at night, it is time to 

 give up any allusion to them. 



The Hedgehog is generallj 7 distributed in the 



