NATURAL HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA 



creatures which succeeded in evolving the most 

 effective methods of protection against their enemies, 

 are those which survived and perpetuated their kind 

 throughout the long ages of time to the present 

 day. 



The Hedgehog seems a helpless sort of little 

 creature, for it lives above ground and is slow in 

 its movements, and apparently it is at the mercy 

 of the host of alert and ever-watchful carnivorous 

 animals and birds of prey. But its helplessness is 

 only apparent. Its back is thickly studded with 

 sharp, quill-like spines, each of which is about an 

 inch long. By the aid of a wonderful set of highly- 

 developed muscles under the skin, the Hedgehog 

 is able to roll itself up into a tight ball, so that the 

 spines stick out in all directions, and so tightly 

 does it coil up that no portion of the unprotected 

 parts are visible. The head and feet are neatly 

 tucked up against the abdomen. Lying rolled up 

 in this manner, few carnivorous animals are bold 

 or foolish enough to attack it. 



Although South Africa is swarming with car- 

 nivorous animals, the little, slow-moving Hedgehog, 

 out upon the exposed Karoo, has succeeded in 

 holding its own in the struggle for existence. 



The chief enemies of the Hedgehog are the larger 

 birds of prey. With their powerful, curved, horny 

 beaks, they tear away the prickly spines and devour 

 the tender body of the animal. 



The Carrion Crow sometimes seizes a Hedgehog 

 18 



