394 SHREWS, MOLES AND BATS 



sign of danger it rolls itself up Into a ball, presenting a formidable 

 array of spikes to the enemy. This it is able to do by the 

 remarkable development of the larger of the muscles beneath the 

 skin, peculiar to most mammals, called the paniculus carnosus. 

 The spines themselves are very elastic, enabling the animal when 

 rolled up into a ball to drop on the ground from a considerable 

 height without being injured. The Fossil Hedgehogs of the 

 Oligocene period were structurally very little different from the 

 Hedgehogs of the present day, showing that they are one of 

 the oldest living genera of mammals ; and it is in all probability 

 their protective spiny armour that has enabled them to exist on 

 the earth so long without changing their habitat or ways of life. 



In its tastes the Hedgehog is decidedly omnivorous. It will 

 eat insects and slugs, worms, small birds and mammals, eggs, 

 lizards and snakes. The snakes it kills by a succession of bites, 

 presenting its formidable spines to its victims should they attempt 

 to retaliate. 



Hedgehogs are said to pair for life. Four to six young ones 

 are produced at a birth, which are blind and have soft, white, 

 flexible spines. 



In Burmah and the Malay region the Rat-Shrews (Gymnura) 

 take the place of Hedgehogs. They show their affinity to the 

 Hedgehogs in several anatomical details as well as in the structure 

 of the teeth, but they have no spines and are clothed with a 

 thick, rough fur. 



The family Talpida comprises the Moles and the Desmans. 

 They are nearly allied to the Shrew-mice, which they closely 

 resemble in their structure, although from certain distinct char- 

 acteristics they are placed in a separate family. 



The Common Mole (Talpa europaus) is about five inches long. 

 It is remarkable for the cylindrical shape of its body, at one end 

 of which is a pointed snout and at the other end a short tail. The 

 fur with which it is covered is thick and fine in texture, and the 

 short hairs so set in the skin that the fur lies smoothly in any 

 direction. The bones and muscles of the breast and fore-limbs 

 are remarkably developed, the forefeet are shaped like little hands, 

 the five digits ending in sharp claws admirably suited for digging. 

 Indeed, the form of the Mole is most wonderfully adapted in every 

 particular to the subterranean life it leads. The wedge-shaped 



