THE SOUTH AFRICAN HEDGEHOG 



Nature. The harm done to the country by this 

 wholesale destruction of our animal friends is more 

 serious than is generally realised, and the part the 

 Kafir and Hottentot herd boys take in it is great, 

 as I have reason to know from a lifetime of personal 

 experience and observation of native boys and men. 



In captivity the Hedgehog, when properly caged 

 and carefully fed, thrives and becomes very tame, 

 eating food from the hand. It is useful' in the 

 house for destroying cockroaches and other house- 

 frequenting insects. 



I have succeeded in keeping Hedgehogs for long 

 periods alive and in good health on a diet of mince- 

 meat and eggs, both raw and cooked ; supplemented 

 by snails, worms and various insects. However, 

 unless kept in a warm and cosy cage they soon 

 perish. They should never be given a starchy diet 

 and milk, as these foods cause indigestion, and 

 fermentation in stomach and bowels. 



In a garden infested with slugs and snails, Hedge- 

 hogs are of great service, but it is necessary to 

 surround the garden with a low fence to keep them 

 from straying. They burrow in loose ground, and 

 unless a portion of the fence is sunk into the ground 

 they may scratch away the soil and escape under it. 



The Hedgehogs which I have kept in captivity 

 usually slept during the day, and became active 

 towards sundown. On dull days they often woke 

 up and began wandering about their cage. When 

 put out into the warm sunshine, however, they at 

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