276 



ZOOLOGY. 



(Fig. 214), the hedgehog, the desman (Fig. 209), and the 

 shrew mouse, or musaraigne (Fig. 240). 



Fig. 238. Chauve-Souris Oreillard ; Large-eared Bat. 



The hedgehog has the hody covered with spines or quills 

 instead of hair, and the skin of the back is provided with a 

 large oval muscle, so that the animal can roll itself into a ball, 

 thus presenting nothing but spines for the enemy to attack. 

 They live in the woods, and lie concealed during the day be- 

 tween the roots of old trees. They are common in France. 



The shrew mouse is 

 a small animal, at first 

 sight resembling a 

 mouse. The body is 

 covered with hairs, 

 and on each flank is 

 a small band of stiff 

 hairs, between which 

 is secreted and exudes 

 an odorous humour. 

 They burrow under 



Fig. 239.-Oreillard; Large-eared Bat F OUnd > a " d liv6 On 



(walking on the ground). insects and Worms. 



Tt is a popular error 



to accuse them of giving rise to a disease in horses and mules 

 by their bite. 



Moles are animals essentially subterranean and burrowing. 

 The body is thick and short ; their muzzle is elongated, and 

 terminated by a moveable snout, adapted to burrow ; and their 

 anterior limbs, though short, are extremely strong and broad, 

 turned outwards, and terminated by strong claws admirably 

 adapted to dig (Fig. 214). By means of these instruments, 

 moles dig, with great rapidity and admirable instinct, long 



