THE WINTERERS 133 



within some open spinney. If you came upon one in 

 autumn he was very fat ; and there were people in the 

 neighbourhood who regarded the animal as a table luxury. 

 If you found him late in the winter he was very thin, and it 

 is reasonable to infer that the ordinary processes of life 

 went on much more actively in the hedgehog than in many 

 other winterers, certainly the bats and frogs and fish. A 

 warm day of late November would bring them out from 



BATS 



under the snag ; and they were afoot in spring as soon as 

 spring growth began. 



Possibly observers have exaggerated the depth of the 

 hedgehog's torpor, because he rolls himself up in a tight 

 ball when disturbed. But the very tightness of the ball is 

 a sign of muscular activity. It is quite easy to tell from 

 the outward appearance whether the ball is or is not tightened 

 for defence. 



To some degree almost all animals prepare for winter 

 inactivity. Most birds as well as beasts lay up a store of 

 fat as winter comes on ; and upon this fat they can feed for 

 some while if conditions are hard. Turtles will live through 

 a long journey on their own fat. The domestic hen puts on 

 a large weight of fat ; and being fed nearly all the winter, 

 whatever the weather, finds trouble to get rid of it, nor does 

 she lay eggs till it is gone, a fact of which the keeper of hens 



