( icj7 ) 



OF THE 



PRICKLY, OR HEDGE-HOG KIND. 



THE Hedge- hog, apparently formidable, is yet harmlefs. Armed 

 with a thoufand points, for defence, not invafion. Deftitute of 

 force, cunning, or fwiftnefs, this animal finds protedlion by one expe- 

 dient. When attacked, it rolls itfclf up, and prefents nothing but a 

 ball of defenfive thorns to the enemy. 



This-animal is of two kinds ; one with a nofe like a hog, the other, 

 more Ihort and blunr. The latter is mod common; is about fix inches 

 from the tip of the nofe to the tail. The tail is little more than an 

 inch long, concealed by the fpines j the head, back, and fides, covered 

 with prickles ; the nofe, bread, and belly, with fine foft hair j legs 

 fhort, of a dufky colour, almoft bare j five toes on each foot, long and 

 fcparated ; the prickles are about an inch in length, very Iharp pointed ; 

 their lower part white, middle black, and points white : the eyes are 

 fmall, and placed high in the head ; the ears are round, pretty large, 

 and naked 5 the mouth is fmall, well furnifhed with teeth for chewing 

 its food. 



On occafions of danger, it alters its whole appearance; bends its 

 back, lays its head on its bread, fliuts its eyes, rolls down the fkin of its 

 fides toward the legs, draws thefe up, and tucks them in on every fide, 

 by drawing the (kin cloi'e ; refembles now not an animal, but a roundilh 

 mafs of prickles, not unlike a chefnut in the hulk ; having, on one fide, 

 a kind of fiat, where the head and legs are tucked in. Thus rolled up, 

 it waits till its enemy is fatigued by fruitlefs attacks. The cat, the 

 weafe), the ferret, the martin, quickly decline the combat ; the dog him- 

 felf feldom fucceeds. If its affailant attempt to bite, he more frequently 

 .feels than inflifts a wound ; enraged and barking, he rolls- it along 

 with his paws ; but the hedge-hog patiently fubmits, in fecurity, to 

 every indignity, and, to difgud its enemy, (beds its urine. The fox, 

 by prefling it with its weight, often obliges the hedge- hog to put out 

 Jts nole, which he indantly feizes, and foon becomes mader of the 

 whole body : when danger is pad, the hedge-hog peeps out from its 

 ball, and creeps flowly to its retreat. 



The hedge-hog deeps by day, and ventures out by night j refides in 

 fmall thickets or hedges j makes a hole fix or eight inches deep, lies 



well 



