EUROPEAN HEDGEHOG. 543 



to differ in the shortness of its quills or spines. 

 The structure of the teeth, however, shews it to 

 belong to a different tribe. Indeed, if we thus 

 arranged animals from external appearance alone, 

 we might also place in the same tribe with the 

 Hedgehog an animal entirely different in the 

 structure of its mouth, and in no other particular 

 allied to the Hedgehog and Porcupine, except in 

 its quilly covering, viz. the aculeated Ant-Eater, 

 already described under its proper genus. 



The Hedgehog is found in most of the tem- 

 perate parts of Europe and Asia, and, accord- 

 ing to Mr. Pennant, is also seen in Madagascar. 

 It commonly measures about eleven inches from 

 the nose to the tip of the tail, which is about an 

 inch long. Its colour is generally grey-brown, 

 but it sometimes is found totally white, or of a 

 yellowish-white; instances of which may be seen 

 in the Leverian Museum: similar specimens are 

 also found in the works of Seba and other authors. 

 It feeds principally on the roots of vegetables ; 

 but it also eats worms, as well as beetles, and 

 other insects. It wanders about chiefly by night, 

 and during the day conceals itself in its hole, under 

 the roots of some tree, or mossy bank. It produces 

 four or five young at a birth, which are soon co- 

 vered with prickles like those of the parent animal, 

 but shorter and weaker. The nest is large, and 

 is composed of moss. 



The Hedgehog, when disturbed, rolls itself up 

 into a globular form, and thus presents to its ad- 

 versary an invulnerable ball of prickles. From 



