CLASS MAMMALIA. 37 



row of trees, where I have no doubt it is frequently passed 

 over as the commoner species by those in search of it. 



Like the last, it is much more common than is generally 

 believed. I have had no difficulty in finding all I have 

 required for the purposes of study. Doubleday says (Zool., 

 1843, p. 6) it is found at Epping, and I have no doubt it is 

 distributed throughout the county, for I have seen it wherever 

 I have looked for it. 



Order INSECTIVORA. 



Family ERINACEID^E, Bonap. 



Genus ERINACEUS, Linn. 



Erinaceus europaeus, Linn. HEDGEHOG. 



I should think there are very few places in Essex where 

 this very common animal is not to be found. It may be 

 seen in woods, hedges, and in the coarse herbage about the 

 ditches of the marshes. 



The persecution it has long undergone at the hands of the 

 game preserver, while diminishing its numbers, happily has 

 not caused its extermination. Doubtless it sometimes in- 

 dulges in the theft of an egg, a young partridge, or a pheasant ; 

 yet these delinquencies must be overlooked in consideration 

 of the hedgehog's extreme usefulness in destroying grubs and 

 insects. Numerous instances are also recorded of its having 

 undoubtedly made a raid upon the poultry, and carried off 

 young chickens from the hen ; while gamekeepers very gener- 

 ally assert that it carries on a similar practice with young 

 pheasants. Even so, I think we must still consider it to be 

 one of the most harmless animals we have. 



In confinement, the hedgehog is quick to lose all fear, 

 neither curling up, nor erecting its spines when handled, and 



