38 THE HEDGEHOG. 



Mr. John Denson, sen., says however, that one evening, when 

 his hedgehog was running about the room, his clock commenced 

 striking the hour and with considerable intervals between each 

 stroke. At the sound of the first stroke the hedgehog con- 

 tracted itself, as if in fear ; before the next stroke was sounded, 

 the hedgehog had partly relaxed itself j but at the sound of the 

 stroke, it again contracted ; and so on with the successive 

 strokes. 



The hedgehog generally lies concealed during the day, among 

 the grass or fallen leaves at the bottom of hedge-rows or thickets, 

 which it leaves at night for the purpose of seeking food and 

 society. Shakespeare, whose immortal works are replete with 

 zoological observations, is probably the first writer who notices 

 that the hedgehog utters a whining cry at night-time : 



" When they show'd me this abhorred pit, 

 They told me here, at dead time of the night, 



Ten thousand urchins, 



Would make such fearful and confused cries, 



As any mortal body, hearing it, 



Should straight fall mad, or else die suddenly." 



(Titus Andronicus, ii. 3.) 



And he makes one of the witches in Macbeth (iv. 1) remark that 

 " the hedge-pig whines " at midnight. This appears to be correct 5 

 for persons who have kept tame hedgehogs assure me that they 

 run about at night uttering sharp cries : and Mr. Denson says 

 he has been informed that the wild ones also whine by night, 

 frequently and at short intervals, and so audibly as to alarm the 

 lonely pedestrian who may be unfamiliar with its voice. 



When assailed by enemies, the hedgehog erects its sharp and 

 formidable prickles, and, by means of very powerful muscles it 

 clasps its extremities closely together into the shape of a ball, 

 only exposing to view such parts of its body as are well pro- 

 tected. Very cruel means have often been adopted to force the 

 hedgehog to unfold itself , and I would, therefore, have it remem- 

 bered, that should anybody particularly wish to make it unfold, 

 the readiest and the most harmless method is to pour cold water 



