360 CHARACTER OF THE HEDGEHOG. 



Whether in its wild state it is able to capture the little birds, is not accurately known, but 

 in captivity it eats finches and other little birds with great voracity. One of these animals, 

 that was kept in a state of domestication, ate no less than seven sparrows in the course of a 

 single night, and another of these creatures crushed and ate in the course of twenty -four hours 

 more than as many sparrow-heads, eating bones, bill, and neck with equal ease. 



Its legitimate prey is found among the insect tribe, of which it consumes vast numbers, 

 being able, not only to chase and capture those which run upon the ground, but even to dig in 

 the earth and feed upon the grubs, worms and various larvae which pass their lives beneath the 

 surface of the ground. A Hedgehog has been seen to exhume the nest of the humblebee, 

 which had been placed in a sloping bank, as is often the case with the habitation of these 

 insects, and to eat bees, grubs, and honey, unmindful of the anger of the survivors, who, how- 

 ever, appeared to be but little affected by the inroads which the Hedgehog was making upon 

 their offspring and their stores. 



According to the generality of writers, among whom we may reckon Mr. White, the 

 immortalizer of Selborne, the food of the Hedgehog is not entirely animal, but is varied 

 with sundry vegetable substances, such as roots, haws, crabs, and other wild fruits. Others 

 deny the vegetable diet of the Hedgehog. In the "Natural History of Selborne," how- 

 ever, we find a very interesting account of the manner in which the Hedgehog devours the 

 roots of the plantain without injuring the leaves, by grubbing with its snout, and biting off the 

 stems, so delicately that the leaves fall untouched. The roots of grasses are also said to form 

 part of the Hedgehog's food. 



As might be supposed from the destructive tendency which is, on certain occasions, so 

 strongly developed in the Hedgehog, the animal is a determined fighter whenever it engages in 

 battle, and is capable of inflicting severe wounds with its sharp teeth and powerful jaws. 

 Should several Hedgehogs be confined in one spot, and a stranger be admitted among them, 

 the new-comer will assuredly be forced to fight for his position, and, in all probability, will 

 either kill one of his opponents, or will fall by the teeth of his adversary. In either case the 

 victor becomes a quadrupedal cannibal, and, not satisfied with having destroyed his foe, pro- 

 ceeds to eat him. In such a case, the slain combatant is totally devoured, with the exception 

 of the skin and its prickles, which remain as a token of battle and a trophy of victory. 



All Hedgehogs are, however, not endowed with an equal amount of combativeness, but 

 are extremely different in their dispositions. Some are most gentle and retiring in their 

 habits, while others are savage and ferocious to a degree, and seem to be totally devoid of 

 fear, so that they will attack boldly any object which annoys them, perfectly regardless of its 

 character or its size. 



The Hedgehog has generally been considered as a dull and stupid animal, incapable of 

 being tamed, and mindful only of its own comfort. Such, however, is really not the case, for 

 when the animal meets with a kind and thoughtful owner, who will try to develop the best 

 feelings of the creature, it proves to be quite affectionate in its character, and will display no 

 small amount of fearless attachment to its master. It would, in all probability, have been 

 better appreciated had it not been, unfortunately, the object of terror or detestation to those 

 who are unacquainted with its habits, and who are either alarmed at its prickly array of quills, 

 or have imbibed certain prejudicial notions concerning its harmful qualities. 



It has already been mentioned that the Hedgehog is fond of milk, but it would hardly be 

 imagined that the animal would condescend to partake of strong drink, and that to such a 

 degree that it would be reduced to a state of helpless intoxication. Such, however, is the case, 

 as has been recorded by Dr. Ball of a Hedgehog which he possessed, and to which he admis- 

 tered a strong potation of sweetened whiskey. The experiment was not made with any 

 intention of injuring the animal, but for the purpose of testing the popular assertion that the 

 creature would thereby be rendered tame. After saying that the intoxicating draught soon 

 showed its power on the animal, Dr. Ball proceeds as follows : 



" Like the beasts that so indulge, he was anything but himself, and his lack-lustre, leaden 

 eye was rendered still less pleasing by its inane, drunken expression. He staggered towards 

 us in a ridiculous, get-out-of-my-way sort of manner ; however, he had not gone far before his 



