HOME OF THE HEDGEHOG. 135 



as readily as a grass-snake, trusting apparently to its prickly armor as 

 a defence against the serpent's fangs. 



Whether, in its wild state, it is able to catch the little birds, is not 

 accurately known, but in captivity it eats finches and other little birds 

 with great voracity. One of these animals, that was kept in a state of 

 domestication, ate no less than seven sparrof\vs in the course of a single 

 night, and another crushed and ate in the course of twenty-four hours 

 more than as many sparrow-heads, eating bones, bill, and neck with 

 equal ease. 



Its legitimate prey is found among the insect tribe, of which it con- 

 sumes vast numbers, being able not only to chase and capture those 

 which run upon the ground, but even to dig in the earth and feed 

 upon the grubs, worms, and various larvse which pass their lives be- 

 neath the surface of the ground. A Hedgehog has been seen to 

 exhume the nest of the bumblebee, which had been placed in a slop- 

 ing bank, as is often the case with the habitation of these insects, 

 and to eat bees, grubs, and honey, unmindful of the anger of the 

 survivors, who, however, appeared to be but little affected by the in- 

 roads which the Hedgehog was making upon their offspring and 

 their stores. 



The home of the Hedgehog is made in some retired and well-pro- 

 tected spot, such as a crevice in rocky ground, or under the stones of 

 some old ruin. It greatly affects hollow trees, wherever the decayed 

 wood permits it to find an easy entrance, and not unfrequently is found 

 coiled up in a warm nest which it has made under the large gnarled 

 roots of some old tree, w^here the rains have washed away the earth 

 and left the roots projecting occasionally from the ground. Besides 

 these legitimate habitations, the Hedgehog is frequently found to in- 

 trude itself upon the homes of other animals, and has been often cap- 

 tured within rabbit burrows. Perhaps it may be led to these localities 

 by the double motive of obtaining shelter from weather and enemies, 

 and of making prey of an occasional young rabbit. 



In its retreat the Hedgehog usually passes the winter in that semi- 

 animate condition which is known by the name of hibernation. 



The hibernation of the Hedgehog is more complete than that of the 

 dormouse or any other of our indigenous hibernating quadrupeds, for 

 they always have a stock of food on which they can rely, and of which 

 they sparingly partake during the cold mouths of the year. The 

 Hedgehog, however, lays up no such stores, nor, indeed, could it do so, 

 for, as has already been mentioned, its food is almost entirely of an an- 

 imal nature. 



The sight of the Hedgehog does not appear to be so excellent as its 

 powers of scent, which are admirably developed, as may be seen by 

 opening the side of a Hedgehog's face. 



