HEDGE-HOG. 57 



Length of head and body, about lo inches ; of tail, i]4, 

 inches. 



The two characters above-mentioned at once serve to dis- 

 tinguish this species from the whole of the other members 

 of the genus, in all of which the third upper incisor and canine 

 teeth each present the rare and remarkable peculiarity of being 

 inserted by two distinct roots ; while the fur is shorter and 

 much less coarse. 



Differing from all other British Mammals by its coat of 

 spines, the Hedge-hog is the largest indigenous representative 

 of the Order to which it belongs. The muzzle is conical, and 

 the body oblong and convex above, while the legs are so short 

 and the feet so completely plantigrade, that the abdomen 

 almost touches the ground when the creature is walking. The 

 short, broad, and rounded ears are less than half the length of 

 the head ; the eyes are of moderate size ; and while the whole 

 of the back and sides are protected by spines, the face and 

 under-parts are clad with stiff and brittle fur, the tip of the 

 muzzle being naked and black. In colour the spines are dirty 

 white, with a brown or blackish ring somewhat above the 

 middle, while the hair on the face and under-parts is yellowish- 

 white. The rather long claws are moderately curved, and 

 much compressed, but are evidently not adapted for burrowing. 

 The female has six pairs of teats. 



Distribution. — The common Hedge-hog ranges over the greater 

 part of Europe, and extends eastwards through Asia as far as 

 Amurland. In England it is generally distributed, although in 

 many parts the fashion so prevalent of grubbing up hedgerows 

 lo make large fields has resulted in a considerable diminution 

 in its numbers. Abundant in the Lake District, it crosses the 

 border into Scotland, where it is mainly characteristic of the 

 southern and central counties, and some years ago it seemed 

 to be chiefly confmed to Clackmannan, Stirling, Dumbarton, 



