184 BRITISH QUADRUPEDS. 



into his shed ; and sometimes he would not come out 

 for two or three days successively. About the end of 

 November he died ; from want of food, as was supposed, 

 but most probably from the severity of the weather." 



The hedgehog is fond of insects, and is sometimes 

 introduced into houses, for the sake of expelling cock- 

 roaches. The Calmuc Tartars, it is said, keep it some- 

 times instead of a cat, and in some respects it answers 

 the same purpose. The landlord of the Angel Inn at 

 Felton, Northumberland, kept a hedgehog some years 

 ago, which answered to the name of Tom, and did the 

 service of a turnspit dog. It was very docile, and ran 

 familiarly about the house. Another is described as 

 unfolding, and lying on the knees of its owner before 

 the fire j it suffers him also to rub the naked parts of 

 its face, from which it appears to derive great pleasure. 



