ORDER CARNASSIER. 169 



itself completely in its thorns, when it rolls itself up into a 

 ball, consists in the muscles of the skin, which, once ex- 

 tended beyond the head and paws, contract and enclose the 

 body in a sort of purse. 



Some authors have spoken of two species of the Hedge- 

 hog among us, one characterized by a more obtuse muzzle 

 than the other. But this distinction has not been con- 

 firmed, nor does it apear to be founded on any very exact 

 observation *. 



Our Hedgehog is met with throughout all Europe, except- 

 ing in the very northern parts. It was well known by the 

 ancients, and the majority of figures which have been pub- 

 lished, from the time of Gessner to our own days, are tole- 

 rably faithful, and communicate a pretty just notion of the 

 animal. In all methodical catalogues it is known by the 

 name of Erinaceus Europaus. 



The second species of the Erinaceus, is the long-eared 

 Hedgehog (Erinaceus Auritus,) called also by some writers 

 the Siberian Urchin. It inhabits the Eastern regions of 

 Asiatic Russia, near the lower parts of the Volga and the 

 Ural, and beyond the lake Baikal. It has also been found 

 in Egypt by M. Geoffrey. Those near the Volga and the 

 Ural are considerably smaller than the European species, 

 but those beyond the lake are of a larger size. Its muzzle 

 is short. The ears are distinguished for their size, from 

 which character the animal derives both its popular and 



* The fact is, that these can only be considered as varieties of the Eri- 

 naceus Europeeus. The first has received in French the name of Herisson 

 Pourceau (Swine Hedgehog), from the form of its nose, which is elongated 

 like the snout of a Hog. This is the most common variety. The other is 

 much more rare. Daubenton could not discover it in the space of ten 

 years, and M. Desmarest declares that he never saw it either alive or dead. 

 It is called the Dog-hedgehog, from the form of its nose, which is propor- 

 tioually shorter than in the first-mentioned variety. Its prickly armour is 

 also less extended, the tail is longer and more slender. The hairs are 

 thicker, stiffer, and of a deep red. The only figure of it has been given 

 by Perrault, Collect, de I' Acad, des Sciences, torn. III., 2d part, p. 41. 



