92 INSECT-EATERS 



and Asia Minor and Syria. In our own country it is 

 often called the Urchin, Furze-pig, and Hedge-pig. In 

 appearance it is very distinctive, having its body covered 

 with prickly spines instead of hair. The spines are really 

 set in ball-and-socket joints, causing them to be very 

 elastic, so that even a blow or a fall from a great height will 

 not drive them into the animal's own body. 



The Hedgehog is about ten inches in length without its 

 tail of another inch. Its limbs are short, but it can run 

 swiftly. It has a long snout with a loose flap bordering 

 each of the nostrils, which are of good service when the 



creature is 

 grubbing. The 

 face is covered 

 with strong, 

 ^ coarse hair, out 

 of which peer 

 bright, clear 

 eyes of bluish 



SKELETON OF THE HEDGEHOG. g reV> ^ n 1 ^ S 



very full com- 

 plement of teeth there are three pairs of incisors in the 

 upper jaw, the inner pair of which are long and tusk-like. 

 Considering its size, the jaws and teeth of the Hedgehog 

 are very powerful ; it can splinter the bone of a mutton 

 chop with comparative ease. 



No part of the anatomy of the Hedgehog is more interest- 

 ing than the powerful muscle of the back, lying under 

 the skin, and scientifically termed the panniculus carnosus, 

 i.e., the ' fleshy rag.' This is the muscle which enables a 

 dog to shake itself dry when it leaves the water. The roots 

 of the bristles pass through the skin sufficiently far to 

 connect them with the muscle, and when it is contracted 

 the bristles are erected. The same muscle enables the 

 animal to roll itself into a ball when alarmed, and to 

 retain that position so firmly that it cannot be drawn 

 straight by force alone. With the tender under parts thus 

 protected, there is presented to its enemies what amounts 

 to a terrible coat of mail. 



The Hedgehog is not limited to insect food. It preys on 



