46 



VERTEBRATES: MAMMALS. 



to ward off attacks. They sleep during the day in con- 

 cealed places, and come forth at night to feed upon in- 



Eig. 84. European Hedgehog. 



sects, fruits, and roots. In cold climates they sleep all 

 winter. They live in the Old World. They are all 

 small, the European Hedgehog being only nine or ten 

 inches long. The animal in America which is called 

 Hedgehog is a Porcupine. 



RODENTS, OR GNAWERS. 



The Rodents are readily known by their teeth. Tn 

 each jaw they have the two front ones chisel-shaped, 

 and between these and the grinders 

 there is a wide space without teeth. 

 The front teeth wear in such a man- 

 ner that the more they are used the 

 sharper they become, and they grow 

 Fig. 85. Skull of at the base as fast as they wear away 

 a Rodent. ^ the ^ More than gix hundred 



kinds of Rodents are known, most of which are small ; 

 the Beaver, with one exception, being the largest. 



The Rodents include the Squirrels, Gophers, Wood- 

 chucks, Rats and Mice, Porcupines, Hares, &c. 



