THE HEDGEHOG. 



THIS animal commonly resides in hedgerows and 

 thickets. It lies concealed in its hole during the day, 

 and at night wanders abroad in search of food, which 

 consists of fruits, succulent roots, frogs, and snails. 

 The manner in which hedgehogs devour the roots of 

 plantain is very curious : with the upper jaw, which is 

 much longer than the lower, they bore under the plant, 

 and so eat the root upwards, leaving the tuft of leaves 

 untouched. " In this respect they are serviceable," says 

 Gilbert White, "as they destroy a very troublesome 

 weed ; but they deface the walks in some measure by 

 digging little round holes." 



The mode in which the hedgehog defends itself from 

 the assaults of other animals is very uncommon. 

 Possessed of but little strength or agility, it neither 

 attempts to fly nor to attack its enemies, but erects its 

 bristles and rolls itself up like a ball ; exposing no 

 part of its body that is not covered with these sharp 

 weapons. It will not unfold itself unless thrown into 



