78 STAG. 



other animals trust to their force, their cunning, or their 

 swiftness, the Hedge-hog, destitute of all these, has but 

 one expedient for its protection : as soon as it perceives 

 itself attacked, it draws back and concentrates all its vul- 

 nerable parts, rolls itself into a kind of ball, and presents 

 nothing but its prickles to the foe ; and thus, while it 

 refrains from attempting to injure any other quadruped, it 

 renders itself proof against the annoyance of most 

 creatures, except man. The enraged dog may bark, and 

 roll it along with his paws ; it still patiently submits to 

 every provocation, in order to remain secure. 



Like most other wild animals, the Hedge-hog spends 

 the greatest part of the day in sleep, and forages for worms, 

 insects, and other petty spoil, principally in the night. It 

 prefers small thickets, hedges, and bushy ditches, for its 

 retreat, where it makes a hole about six or eight inches 

 deep, and lines it with moss, grass, or leaves. It sleeps 

 during winter, and, at all seasons, is satisfied with a small 

 quantity of food. The flesh, by some, is esteemed very 

 delicate eating ; but it is only epicures of a peculiar taste 

 who make the experiment. 



THE STAG, OR RED DEER. 



THIS is a species of Deer with long upright horns much 

 branched ; and slender, sharp brow antlers. The colour 

 is generally of a reddish brown, with some black about the 

 face, and a black list down the hind part of the neck, and 

 between the shoulders. This quadruped is common to 

 the northern parts of every quarter of the globe, and is 

 pretty generally diffused over Europe. It is one of those 

 mild, tranquil, and innocent animals, which seem created 

 to adorn and animate the solitude of the forest, and to 

 occupy, remote from the visits of man, the peaceful retreats 

 of nature. Like the rest of the Deer kind, the stag sheds 

 its horns annually; whence that useful volatile spirit, 

 willed hartshorn, is obtained. The hind, or female, goes 

 with young somewhat more than eight months. As the 

 llcsh is not much esteemed, they are seldom taken under 



