HEDGEHOG. II 



inspecting the small gape of his mouth would exonerate him 

 from the charge of getting a cow's dug into it. 



He is said to be capable of killing and eating a wild Rabbit ; 

 but, of course, although he runs well, he could never catch a 

 Rabbit unless the rodent were wounded. He is also a good 

 swimmer and climber, not only of trees but of rain-pipes and 

 rough walls, especially where these are creeper-clad. In addi- 

 tion to the food mentioned above he takes slugs and worms, 

 mice, rats, lizards, frogs, and snakes including the Viper to 

 whose poison he is immune. It is certain that it fights with 

 Rats, and Lord Lilford has told how it cleared a garden of them ; 

 but the Rat is sometimes the victor and eats the Hedgehog. 

 The Hedgehog on occasion will indulge in a feast of carrion. 



Only animals that are very hungry will attack the Hedgehog, 

 and then the young are preferred if available. Gipsies, Foxes, 

 and Badgers appear to be his principal enemies. The Fox is 

 said to have a special and disgusting method of making the 

 Hedgehog unroll when he is on the defensive ; and a writer in 

 The Field some years ago stated that when caught by the 

 Badger the Hedgehog utters a pitiful wail, though he will permit 

 himself to be torn to pieces by a terrier without a cry. 



The male and female are known respectively as Boar and 

 Sow, to carry out the idea that they are a lesser kind of pig. 

 Though the males are very quarrelsome among themselves, they 

 have the domestic virtue and mate for life. Some time between 

 the end of June and the end of August, the female produces a 

 litter of four to seven blind and helpless young, sparsely clad 

 with pale, flexible spines, and the ears drooping. The spines 

 gradually stiffen and become first dull grey, then brown and 

 ringed with three bands, of which the middle one is dark and 

 the others light. The spines are arranged in radiating groups, 

 surrounded by coarse harsh fur. Normally, these spines lie flat 

 upon the body, but can be erected at will. They cover the 

 entire upper surface with the exception of the short conical head 



