38 ANECDOTES OF ANIMALS. 



HEDGEHOGS. 



HEDGEHOGS form one of the small groups of Insect-eat- 

 ing Mammalia, and are remarkable for being also able 

 to eat those substances which are destructive to others ; 

 for instance, they devour the wings of Spanish flies 

 (Cantharides)wiih impunity, which cause fearful torments 

 to other animals, and not the least to man, by raising 

 blisters on his skin. It would seem that the hedgehog 

 is also externally insensible to poison, for it fights with 

 adders, and is bitten about the lips and nose without 

 receiving any injury. An experiment has been made 

 by administering prussic acid to it, which took no 

 effect. 



It is well known that hedgehogs are covered with 

 bristles amounting to sharp prickles, and that they roll 

 themselves up into a ball. This is effected by a peculiar 

 set of muscles attached to the skin, by which they pull 

 themselves into this shape, and at the same time set 

 up every bristle, and drag their head and limbs within. 

 Such is the resistance and elasticity of these bristles, 

 that the owners of them may be thrown to great dis- 

 tances and remain unhurt, and they will even throw 

 themselves down steep places when they wish to re- 

 move from a particular spot. 



Hedgehogs are nocturnal animals, and frequent 

 woods, gardens, orchards, and thick hedge-rows. It 

 is in the latter that I have heard of one being mistaken 

 by a hen for a bush, in which she might lay her egg in 

 safety. The fact was announced by the triumphant 

 cackling which these birds vociferate on such occa- 

 sions : the egg was consequently searched for, and 

 found upon the hedgehog's back. 



