46 INSECTIVOROUS MAMMALS. 



small stature, which, during the day, conceal themselves in bur- 

 rows or holes, from which they sally forth only at night. Many 

 of them pass the winter in a state of lethargy ; as their name in- 

 dicates, they live chiefly upon insects. 



21. The principal genera composing this family are the hedge- 

 hogs, shrews, and moles which are recognisable by the following 

 characters : 



_ _ (Genera.) 



Family 

 of 



paws of the ordinary 



, a n rmedWith I Body covered 

 J with hair. 



Shrew*. 



Diggers, (posterior paws of a peculiar i 

 form, and armed with very long nails, [ ,, , 



suitable for excavating, or digging the f 

 Dearth. J 



22. The HEDGEHOGS, Erinaceus, are small animals, which, 

 without having the instinct to excavate burrows inaccessible J;o 

 their enemies, without the activity necessary to escape their pur- 

 suit, or strength to contend against them, are nevertheless capa- 

 ble of advantageously protecting themselves and punishing any 

 imprudent attack of their adversaries ; but to give them this power, 

 nature has formed for them no new organs, but has merely modi- 

 fied the hairs with which their backs are covered, and given a 

 greater extent to certain of their movements, than is common in 

 other quadrupeds. By flexing the head and paws beneath the 

 belly, the Hedgehog can roll itself into a ball, and it also has the 

 faculty of drawing the skin of the back in such a manner as to 

 envelope itself, as in a purse ; now, the hairs with which this part 

 of the tegumentary envelope is furnished, in stead of being flexible 

 and silky, are stout, stiff, and sharp, and, when the skin is thus 

 drawn, the spines are raised up, crossing each other in every direc- 

 tion, bristling all parts of the animal's surface like so many spines or 

 spears ready to lacerate and tear the mouth and paws of the 

 aggressor. This powerfully defensive armour protects the Hedge- 

 hogs from the attacks of most of the Carnaria, of which, with- 

 out it, they would become the ready victims ; foxes however, are 

 not deterred by these obstacles, and are often successful in 

 seizing this dangerous prey. Their mouth is armed with twenty 



21. What are the principal genera composing this family ? What are the 

 organic characters of the genus Hedgehog ? What are the characters of 

 the Shrews? How are the Moles distinguished ? 



22. What are the peculiarities of the Hedgehog ? What is the number of 

 their teeth ? How are they arranged ? What are their habits ? 



