352 HISTORY OF 



appearance ; from its usual form, somewbat resembling a small 

 animal with a bmich on its back, the animal begins to bend its 

 back, to lay its head upon its breast, to shut its eyes, to roll 

 down the skin of its sides towards the legs, to draw these up, 

 and lastly, to tuck them in on every side, by drawing the skin 

 still closer. In this form, which the hedgehog always puts on when 

 disturbed, it no way resembles an animal, but rather a roundish 

 mass of prickles impervious on every side. The shape of the 

 animal thus rolled up, somewhat resembles a chestnut in the 

 husk : there being, on one side, a kind of flat space, which Ib 

 that on which the head and legs have been tucked in. 



Such is the usual appearance of the hedgehog, upon the ap- 

 proach of any danger. Thus rolled up in a lump, it patiently 

 waits till its enemy passes by, or is fatigued with fruitless at- 

 tempts to annoy it. The cat, the weasel, the ferret, and the mar. 

 tin, quickly decline the combat ; and the dog himself, generally 

 spends his time in empty menaces, rather than in eflTectual efforts. 

 Every increase of danger only increases the animal's precautions 

 to keep on its guard ; its assailant vainly attempts to bite, since 

 he thus more frequently feeis than inflicts a wound ; he stands 

 enraged and barking, and rolls it along with his paws : still, 

 however, the hedgehog patiently submits to every indignity, but 

 continues secure; and still more to disgust its enemy with the 

 contest, sheds its urine, the smell of which is alone suflicient to 

 send him away. In this manner, the dog, after barking for 

 some time, leaves the hedgehog where he found him, who per- 

 ceiving the danger past, at length peeps out from its ball, and if 

 not interrupted, creeps slowly to its retreat. 



The hedgehog, like most other wild animals, sleeps by day, 

 and ventures out by night. It generally resides in small thickets, 

 in hedges, or in ditches covered with bushes : there it makes a 

 hole of about six or eight inches deep, and lies well wrapped up 

 in moss, grass, or leaves. Its food is roots, fruits, worms, and 

 insects. It is also said to suck cattle and hurt their udders ; 

 but the smallness of its mouth will serve to clear it from tbis 

 reproach. It is said also to be very hurtful in gardens and or- 

 chards, where it will roll itself in a heap of fruit, and so carry a 

 large quantity away upon its prickles ; but this imputation is as 

 ill grounded as the former, since the s])ines are so disposed, that 

 no fruit will stick upon them, even if we should try to fix them 



