THE COMMON HEDGEHOG. 401 



the nooses and removes the central peg in his pro- 

 gression, the bent stick, rises by its elasticity, and 

 strangles him*." 



THE HEDGEHOG TRIBE. 



THE Hedgehogs have two front teeth, bot!i 

 above and below ; of which those in the upper jaw 

 are distant, and those of the lower are placed near 

 together. On each side there are canine teeth ; in 

 the upper jaw five, and in the lower three. There 

 are also four grinders on each side, both above and 

 below ; and the body is covered on the upper parts 

 with spines '|". The tail and feet arc very short . 

 and the snout is somewhat cartilaginous. 



There are seven species ; none of which are car- 

 nivorous. Of these only one is found in Europe, 

 and this is common in several parts of England. 



THE COMMON HEDGEHOG \. 



These animals are natives of most of the tempe- 

 rate parts of Europe and Asia. They are generally 

 about ten inches long, and of a greyish l)rown co- 

 lour. — Their usaal residence is in small thickets : 

 and they feed on fallen fruits, roots, and insects ; 



* Darwin's Phytologia, 371, 372. t Linn. Cincl. i. \\b. 



% Synonyms. — Erinaceus Europseus. Unn. — Common Hedgehog, 

 Common Urchin. Pcnn. — Ilerisson. Jinffun. — Siuru;'s Oen. Zovl' 

 pi. ]'2l.--Bc-u!. 2ua(L 118. 



Vol. I. D d 



