THE COMMON HEDGEHOG. 403 



iiim, stand off and bark, not daring to scizehim ; 

 and, if they attempt it once, their mouths are so 

 pricked with his bristles, that it is with difficulty 

 they can be prevailed upon to do it a second time. 

 He is easily taken ; for he neither attempts to fly, 

 nor to defend himself by any other means than this. 



The Hedgehog may be rendered in a considerable 

 degree domestic ; and it has been frequently intro- 

 duced into houses for the purpose of eypelling those 

 troublesome insects the BJattce, or Cock-roaclies, 

 which it pursues with avidity, and on v.'hich it is 

 fond of feeding. By the Calmuc Tartars these ani- 

 mals are kept in their huts instead of Cats. — There 

 was a Hedgehog in the year 1799, i^"* ^^^^ possession 

 of a Mr. Sample, of the Angel-inn at Felton in 

 Northumberland, which performed the duty of a 

 turn-spit, as well in every respect as the Dog of that 

 denomination. It ran about the house as familiarly 

 as any other. domestic quadruped, and displayed an 

 obedience till then unknown in this species of ani- 

 mals. It used to answer to the name of Tom. 



In the winter the Hedgehog wraps itself up in a 

 warm nest of moss, dried grass, and leaves ; and 

 sleeps out the rigours of that season. It is frequent- 

 ly found so completely encircled with herbage, that 

 it resembles a ball of dried leaves; but when taken 

 out, antl placed before a lire, it soon recovers from 

 its state of torpidity. — It produces four or five young 

 ones at a birth; which are soon covered with prickles, 

 like those of the parent animal, but shorter and 

 weaker. The nest formed for these is large, and iS 

 composed principally of moss. 



Dd2 



