STORY OF THE HEDGEHOG. 



School children in England become familiar with a strange little animal 

 that is rarely seen in this country, although it inhabits parts of Africa and 

 Asia. It is the hedgehog, or urchin, which is guarded with spikes. These 

 spikes are fixed into, the skin in a very beautiful and simple manner. When 

 the hedgehog is annoyed it rolls itself up', and the tightness of the skin causes 

 all its spines tO' stand firm and erect, bidding defiance to an unprotected hand. 

 While rolled up, even the dog and the fox are baffled by it; but their in- 

 genuity enables them toi overcome the difficulty by rolling it along until they 

 push it intO) a puddle or pool, when the astonished hedgehog immediately un- 

 lolls itself tO' see what is the matter, and before it can close itself again is 

 seized by its crafty enemy. 



Many more fortunate animals have outlived the aspersions cast upon their 

 character by ignorant persons, but the prejudice against the hedgehog is still 

 in full vigor in the agricultural districts. Scarcely a farmer or a laborer will 

 be persuaded that the hedgehog does not suck the cows. Now this is an im- 

 possibility for the hedgehog. The food of the hedgehog consists not of cow's 

 milk, but insects, frogs, mice and snakes. I once placed a snake in the same 

 box with a hedgehog. The hedgehog gave the snake a severe bite, and then 

 rolled itself up, this process being repeated until the spine of the snake was 



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