266 THE HEDGEHOG OR URCHIN. 



that one could never have told a hole existed 

 there. Out of the passage we dragged at 

 least a sackful of leaves, and when the hedge- 

 hog himself was removed he lay perfectly still, 

 partly uncurled, making no effort at self-defence, 

 and apparently still sleeping a deep, untroubled 

 sleep. 



A decayed tree- root may be used, and grass 

 may function as bedding material instead of leaves. 

 Even sheep's wool may be dragged into the nest 

 anything, in fact, that suggests the desirable warmth 

 of covering. A hedgehog will hibernate in thick 

 ivy, perhaps a few feet from the ground ; and one 

 took possession of some sacks in a corner of my 

 motor-house, and there settled quite contentedly, 

 though the house was in frequent use. Its habits, 

 however, were so unclean that ultimately we 

 were compelled to eject it. Curiously enough, it 

 appeared in midwinter, so evidently it had been 

 compelled to abandon its previous den. I have 

 known one to try to den up in a potting-shed till 

 it was forcibly ejected by the gardener ; in fact, it 

 is impossible to lay down fixed rules as regards 

 the location of this creature's winter abode, as it 

 will den up anywhere that suggests the desirable 

 degree of warmth and comfort. Nor does it appear 

 to be opposed to changing its den in midwinter, as 

 it may try half-a-dozen different retreats, from each 

 of which it is ejected, ere finally it disappears. 



No doubt the first call of spring finds the hedge- 

 hog community sadly reduced in numbers. Some 

 have chosen their nesting -sites unwisely, and 

 simply do not waken ; while others, with the 

 torpor of winter still upon them, have fallen 

 victims to their foes. 



Those that successfully sally forth with the 



