WILD CREATURES OF GARDEN AND HEDGEROW 



about it like undertakers. The way the poor 

 rabbit met its fate is plain enough, for there is 

 a red hole bitten in the back of its neck ; that 

 is the work of the stoat, so the stoat, and he 

 alone, is the culprit. But the hedgehog does 

 not care how the rabbit died, all he thinks 

 about is a good meal, and a dead rabbit like 

 this promises a very good meal indeed. He 

 is in such a hurry to get to work that he 

 does not even take any notice when he feels 

 that shake of the ground caused by a startled 

 rabbit thumping with its heels to warn its 

 friends that there is danger about. When 

 anything frightens a rabbit that is out feeding, 

 it always, before running away, hits the ground 

 with its hind feet. The thump carries far, 

 and tells all the other rabbits to look out, 

 to beware. As a rule, the hedgehog pays 

 attention to this signal, putting up his spines, 

 and preparing to roll up, but he has already 

 begun to eat, and for once takes no notice. 

 Pushing his nose through the hole the stoat has 

 made he chews steadily at the meat, eating 

 with a noisy smacking of his lips and crunching 

 of his teeth which cells how he is enjoying 

 himself. He eats vulgarly, noisily, in fact 

 like a pig ! He is enjoying the meal so much 

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