THE HEDGEHOG. 445 



upon the back, and are clotlied with hair of a more or less dense character, according to 

 the particular species. In every species, however, the hair is of a peculiar character, 

 and is intermixed with a goodly number of tolerably stiff hairs of a bristly character. 



The food of the Hedgehog consists chiefly of insects, worms, snails, and similar 

 creatures, but it is of essentially carnivorous taste, and is in no wise particular what 

 the kind of food which it eats, provided that it be of an animal character. 



These details of form and habit are common to all the Hedgehogs ; and the other 

 peculiarities of the Erinacea, as these animals are learnedly named, will be mentioned 

 in connection with the two species that will be figured and described in these pages. 



The LONG-EARED HEDGEHOG derives its name from the exceeding dimensions of its 

 ears, which project from its head in such a manner as to give to the animal a very porcine 

 aspect. This species is found in Siberia and in all the eastern regions of Asiatic Russia, 

 and has also been captured in Egypt. It is a smaller animal than the common Hedgehog 

 of Europe, but is very variable in its dimensions, according to the locality in which it is 

 found. The limbs are comparatively long and slender, and the long hair that clothes the 

 lower portions of the body is extremely fine in its texture. The array of prickly spines 

 that guard its back does not extend so far as in the European species, and are of a rather 

 peculiar coloring. At the base, each spine is marked with a whitish ring, the centre is 

 brown, and the tip is tinted with yellow. The color of the eye is bluish-gray. 



The common HEDGEHOG, HEDGE-PIG, or URCHIN, is_one of the most familiar of our 

 indigenous mammalia, being found in every part of Great Britain which is capable of 

 affording food and shelter. 



The hard round spines which cover the upper part of its body are about an inch in 

 length, and of a rather peculiar shape, which is well represented in the accompanying 

 sketch. The form is wonderfully adapted to meet the peculiar objects which the spine 

 is intended to fulfil, as will be seen in the following account : 



The spine, which is here given, is supposed to be lying nearly horizontally upon the 

 back of the animal, a position which it assumes whenever the Hedgehog 

 chooses to relax the peculiar muscle which governs the spines, and 

 which seems to retain the creature in its coiled attitude. The point of 4 ' *x 

 the quill or spine is directed towards the tail. It will be seen that the 8 pine of hedgehog, 

 quill is not unlike a large pin, being sharply pointed at one extremity, 

 and furnished at the other with a round, bead-like head, and rather 

 abruptly bent near the head. If the skin be removed from the Hedgehog, the quills are 

 seen to be pinned, as it were, through the skin, being retained by their rounded heads, 

 which are acted upon by the peculiar muscle which has already been mentioned. 



It is evident, therefore, that whenever the head of the quill is drawn backward by the 

 contraction of the muscle, the point of the quill is erected in proportion to the force 

 which is exerted upon the head, so that when the animal is rolled up, and the greatest 

 tension is employed, the quills stand boldly out from the body, and present the bay- 

 onet-like array of points in every direction. 



These curiously-formed spines are useful to the Hedgehog for other purposes than the 

 very obvious use of protecting the creature from the attacks of its foe. They are 

 extremely elastic, as is found to be the case with hairs and quills of all descriptions, and 

 the natural elasticity is increased by the sharp curve into which they are bent at their 

 insertion into the skin. Protected by this defence, the Hedgehog is enabled to throw 

 itself from considerable heights, to curl itself into a ball as it descends, and to reach the 

 ground without suffering any harm from its fall. A Hedgehog has been seen repeatedly 

 to throw itself from a wall some twelve or fourteen feet in height, and to fall upon the 

 hard ground without appearing even to be inconvenienced by its tumble. On reaching 

 the ground, it would unroll itself, and trot off with perfect unconcern. 



The thorn-studded skin of this animal is not without its use even to mankind, and is 

 still employed for various useful purposes. 



In some parts of the country it is used in weaning calves, and is an infalliable mode 

 of effecting that object. When the farmer desires to wean the young calf, he fixes a 



