ANIMALS. 3S>\ 



the link that combines them, but the similitude in tlie teeth : 

 this, therefore, may be easily dispensed with ; and, as was said, it 

 will be most proper to class them according to their most strik- 

 ing similitudes. 



The hedgehog with an appearance the most formidable, is 

 yet one of the most harmless animals in the world : unable or 

 unwilling to offend, all its precautions are only directed to its 

 own security ; and it is armed with a thousand points to keep 

 off the enemy, but not to invade him. While other creatures) 

 trust to their force, their cunning, or their swiftness, this ani- 

 mal, destitute of all, has but one expedient for safety; and from 

 this alone it often finds protection. As soon as it perceives it- 

 self attacked, it withdraws all its vulnerable parts, rolls itself 

 into a ball, and presents nothing but its defensive thorns to the 

 enemy; thus, while it attempts to injure no other quadruped, 

 they are equally incapable of injuring it : like those knights we 

 have somewhere read of, who were armed in such a manner, that 

 they could neither conquer others, nor be themselves overcome. 

 This animal is of two kinds ; one with a nose like the snout of a 

 hog ; the other more short and blunt, like that of a dog. That 

 with the m uzzle of a dog is the most common, being about six inches 

 in length, from the tip of the nose to the insertion of the tail. The 

 tail is little more than an inch long, and so concealed by the spines, 

 as to be scarcely visible : the head, back, and sides, are covered 

 with prickles: the nose, breast and belly are covered with 

 fine soft hair:' the legs are short, of a dusky colour, and almost 

 bare : the toes on each foot are five in number, long and sepa- 

 rated ; the prickles are about an inch in length, and very sharp 

 pointed ; their lower part is white, the middle black, and the 

 points white : the eyes are small, and placed high in the head : 

 the ears are round, pretty large, and naked ; the mouth is small, 

 but well furnished with teeth ; these however it uses in chew- 

 ing its food, but neither in attacking or defending itself against 

 other animals. Its only reliance, in cases of danger, is on its 

 spines ; the instant it perceives an enemy, it puts itself into a pos- 

 ture of defence, and keeps upon its guard, until it supposes the 

 danger over. On such occasions, it immediately alters its whole 



I Prseputium propoiidens. Linnaei Syst 75. And of tho female lie iniglrf 

 Have s>aid, resuiiina copulalur. 



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