288 NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Manners of the hedgehog. 



is so concealed by the spines, as to be scarcely 

 visible. They generally reside in small thickets : 

 and feed on fallen fruits, roots, and insects j 

 they are also very fond of flesh-meat, either raw 

 or roasted. They chiefly wander about by night, 

 and during the day lie concealed in their holes. 



Mr. White observes, that the manner in which 

 the hedgehogs eat the roots of the plantain in his 

 grass-walks is very curious. With their upper 

 jaw, which is much longer than the lower, they 

 bore under the plant; and gnaw the root off up- 

 wards, leaving the tuft of leaves untouched. In 

 this respect they are serviceable, as they destroy 

 a. very troublesome weed ; but the small round 

 holes which they make in some measure deface 

 the walks. 



It has been alledged, that if these animals can 

 obtain admission to a garden, they will mount 

 the trees, and descend with pears, apples, or 

 plums, stuck upon their bristles. M. de Buffbn, 

 however, who kept them tame about his premises 

 acquits them of this charge. " I permitted se- 

 veral of them," says he, " to go about my gar- 

 den, they did very little damage, and it was 

 scarcely perceivable that they were there." They 

 are also undeservedly accused of sucking cattle 

 and injuring their udders; for the smallness of 

 their mouths renders this altogether impossible. 



The hedgehog has a very singular method of 

 defending itself from the attacks of other animals. 

 Nature having 'bestowed on him but little strength 





