132 



SPINES OF THE HEDGEHOG. 



animal whenever it chooses to relax .the peculiar muscles which govern 

 them, and which serve to retain the creature in its coiled attitude. The 

 point of the quill or spine is directed toward the tail. The quill is not 

 unlike a large pin, being sharply pointed at one extremity, furnished 

 at the other with a round bead-like head, and rather abruptly bent 

 near this head. If the skin be removed from the Hedgehog, the 

 quills are seen to be pinned, as it were, through the skin, being retained 



The Hedgehog {Erinuceus Europceus). 



by their round heads, which are acted upon by the peculiar muscles 

 which have already been mentioned. 



It is evident, therefore, that whenever the head of the quill is drawn 

 backward by the contraction of the muscle, the point of the quill is 

 erected in proportion to the force which is exerted upon the head, so 

 that when the animal is rolled up, and the greatest tension is employed, 

 the quills stand boldly out from the body, and present the bayonet-like 

 array of points in every direction. 



These curiously-formed spines are useful to the Hedgehog for other 

 purposes than the very obvious one of protecting the creature from the 

 attacks of its foe. They are extremely elastic, as is found to be the 

 case with hairs and quills of all descriptions, and the natural elasticity 

 is increased by the sharp curve into which they are bent at their inser- 

 tion into the skin. Protected by this defence, the Hedgehog is enabled 

 to throw itself from considerable heights, to curl itself into a ball as it 

 descends, and to reach the ground without suffering any harm from its 

 fall. A Hedgehog has been seen repeatedly to throw itself from a 

 wall, some twelve or fourteen feet in height, and to fall upon the hard 

 ground without appearing to be even inconvenienced by its tumble. On 

 reaching the ground it would unroll itself and trot off with perfect un- 

 concern. 



Marching securely under the guardianship of its thorn-spiked armor, 



