OKDEK IV. INSIOCTIVOIIA. 4!l 



or four species of tlicsc animals arc known. Tlio Ccnlrnox xelo.^xs, or 

 Bristly Tcnrec, is of a brown color, and surpasses the hedgehog in size ; 

 C. (truirt/us, or Armed Tcnrec, has a shorter, tliiekcr head, larger ears ; is 

 of a light color, anil covered with spines ; the ('. seiiii'spijio.su^, or llalf- 

 sjiined Tenrec, is of the size of a mole, striped with yellow and black ; has 

 spines and hairs intermingled, and a long, pointed muzzle. 



iMacgillivray has constructed a minor grouj), to wliich he gi\es the ge- 

 neric name Ericnlnx. Here we find the Eri<-nJi(s )i/'(/rexri'iis, or Xegro 

 Tendrac, and L\ .sj)inosu,'<, a small species distinguished by its long, white 

 head and dark back. 



Gexi:s Ekixaceus — The Connnon Hedgehog (^Eriiiacri'!^ Enropd'iis) 

 bears sonic resemblance, particularly in the back and snout, to a pig, from 

 which circumstance it derives its name. It is a small animal, about ten 

 inches in length, having a short tail, and the upjier part of the body entire- 

 ly covered with sharj) quills or sj)ines. These, together with a peculiar 

 muscular arrangement of the skin of the ba(dv, by which it is enabled to 

 assume the form of a ball, furnish it with a sure defence against all aggres- 

 sors but man. When attacked, it instantly transforms itself into a kind of 

 cliecuax-ih'-frlse, by rolling itself into a ball-shape, presenting everywhere 

 a surface of sharp spines, in which panoply no animal will be rash enough 

 to assail it. It is said to be able to devour large numbers of the poisonous 

 fly, known in medicine as cftnthariJrft, without any ill effects, whereas a 

 single one will kill a dog or a cat. The stiff hairs of the lower parts are 

 yellowish, and the woolh', brownish-gray. It constructs its burrow gen- 

 erally under the roots of an old tree, or on a bank, or in the ck'ft of a rock, 

 where it reposes during the day. At night it goes forth in pursuit of food, 

 which consists chiefly of snails, larva% reptiles, eggs, and fruits. In its 

 diet, however, it may be said to be omnivorous. It is capable of domesti- 

 cation, and is kept in many houses and gardens in I'^ngland to destroy 

 cockroaches, slugs, &c.., and to assist in the kitchen, by turning the spit on 

 which meat is roasting, which service it is said to perform as well as the 

 Turnspit Dog. It is fond of fruits, but it has not the faculty of loading the 

 prickles of its back with them, and thus carrying them off; nor does it suck 

 the teats of cows and goats at night, as Aristotle, Pliny, Button, and others 

 have asserted. 



As winter approaches, the Hedgehog retires to its burrow, where it has 

 prepared a nest of dry leaves and grass, rolls itself up into a ball, and falls 

 into a slumber, which lasts until the spring is far advanced. Several other 

 species are enumerated, all of them belonging to the Old Continent. 



Genus Gyjinura — Oriental Hedgehogs. One species — Kaftie's Gym- 

 nura ( ''/. l!<[l]h tiii) — is well ascertained. The general color is black, 

 KO. 11. 7 



