HEDGEHOG KIND. 207 



mils to every indignity, but continues secure ; and 

 still more to disgust its enemy with the contest, 

 sheds its urine, the smell of which is alone suf- 

 ficient to send him away. In this manner, the 

 dog, after barking for some time, leaves the 

 hedgehog where he found him ; who, perceiv- 

 ing the danger past, at length peeps out from its 

 ball, and, if not interrupted, creeps slowly to its 

 retreat. 



The hedgehog, like most other wild animals, 

 sleeps by day, and ventures out by night. It ge- 

 nerally resides in small thickets, in hedges, or in 

 ditches covered with bushes : there it makes 

 a hole of about six or eight inches deep, and 

 lies well wrapped up in moss, grass, or leaves. 

 Its food is roots, fruits, worms, and insects. 

 It is also said to suck cattle, and hurt their 

 udders ; but the smallness of its mouth will serve 

 to clear it from this reproach. It is said also to 

 be very hurtful in gardens and orchards, where it 

 will roll itself in a heap of fruit, and so carry a 

 large quantity away upon its prickles ; but this 

 imputation is as ill grounded as the former, since 

 the spines are so disposed that no fruit will stick 

 upon them, even if we should try to fix them on. 

 It rather appears to be a very serviceable animal, 

 in ridding our fields of insects and worms, which 

 are so prejudicial to vegetation. 



M. Buffon, who kept these animals tame about 

 his house, acquits them of the reproach of being 

 mischievous in the garden ; but then he accuses 

 them of tricks, of which, from the form and habits 

 of this animal, one would never be led to suspect 



