NOTES ON THE HEDGEHOG. 
By, W. Royaut-Dawson, F.zZ.s. 
4,EW British mammals are more familiar than the Hedgehog. ‘This inoffensive litle 
creature has, from the earliest times, been regarded as vermin of the deepest dye 
by the farmer, though his reason for complaint is not obvious; for, so far from doing 
mischief, the hedgehog benefits the farm- 
yard, since it devours worms, maggots, and 
also mmsects which are noxious to the 
cattle. If anyone has reason to complain 
it is the gamekeeper, for the hedgehog 
is very partial to gamebirds’ eggs. In 
captivity it is very fond of bread and milk. 
The hedgehog is very audacious, for it 
is not infrequently known to attack adders, 
and it almost invariably comes off the victor, 
its opponent having lacerated itself on the 
spiny armour which characterises typical 
Erinaceide. In addition to its ordinary 
diet, viz., worms and insects, the hedgehog 
will sometimes devour small mice, but Tito ty omey Grabham. 
never by preference so long as its proper HEDGEHOG UNROLLED ROOTING FOR WORMS. 
food is abundant. 
The well-known means of self-defence of Hrinaceus is rolling itself into a ball. This 
method is generally effective so far as man is concerned, though with the fox and the 
badger it does not go very far. The advantages of the spiny coat are various; for, 
besides being the only means of defence, it will break a fall owing to its elasticity. 
The hedgehog produces from three to six young at a birth, generally in August. The 
parent builds a capacious nest of twigs and leaves for the accommodation of her offspring. 
As Gilbert White points out in his “Natural History of Selborne,” the new-born hedge- 
hogs are lke puppies in that they are 
blind for some days after birth. The spines 
are also soft, but soon begin to harden. 
The common hedgehog presents some 
variety in its coloration, but as a rule 
is a dull buff colour, the spines being 
light at their bases and tips, darker in 
the middle. Albimos are occasionally 
recorded. Like the majority of our 
British mammals, the hedgehog is largely 
nocturnal in its habits. It can run with 
ereat rapidity. There still lingers in some 
parts the old fallacy that hedgehogs climb 
fruit-trees and carry away fruit on their 
spines, but as they subsist on animal, 
and not vegetable diet, this belief is too 
absurd to need comment. 
In conclusion I may say a word about the hedgehog as food. It is not eaten in 
England, unless by gipsies; though in France, like most thimgs, it finds its way on 
to the dinner-table. 
=== = = 
Oxtey Grabhan:. 
HEDGEHOG ROLLED UP. 
Photo by 
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