290 NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Mischievous tricks. 



ever, accuses them of tricks, of which, from their 

 form and habits one would scarcely suspect them. 

 " I have often," says he, ' had the female and 

 her young brought me about the beginning of 

 June; and being desirous of rearing some of 

 them, I put them into a tub, with an abundant 

 supply of provisions: but the old animal, instead 

 of suckling her offspring, devoured them all, one 

 after another. On another occasion, a hedge- 

 hog that had made its way into the kitchen, dis- 

 covered a little pot, in which there was meat pre- 

 pared for boiling; the mischievous animal drew 

 out the meat, and left its excrement in the stead." 



During the winter the hedgehog wraps itself 

 up in a warm nest of moss, dried grass, and 

 leaves ; and sleeps out the rigours of that season. 

 It is sometimes found so completely enveloped 

 with herbage, that it resembles a ball of dried 

 leaves ; but when taken out, and placed before a 

 fire, it soon recovers from its state of torpidity. 

 It produces from three to five young ones at a 

 birth; which at first are white, and exhibit only 

 the marks of this species, with which, however, 

 they are soon covered like the parent animal. 



Besides the common hedgehog already de- 

 scribed, there are six species, but none of them 

 found in Europe. The Guiana hedgehog has its 

 spines shorter, thicker, and stronger than the 

 former; is of a very pale colour; and has not 

 the least appearance of external ears. The 

 hedgehog of Siberia has long, oval, naked ears, 



