9» VERTEBRATES. 



of its body a poignant weapon of defence. Even frpm its fear 



tliis animal obtains another engine of security; the swell of its 



urine, which, when attacked, it gene- 



jally sheds, being sufficient to disgust 



its enemy with the contest, and to keep 



him at a distance. Thus the generality 



of dogs are content with barking at the 



Hedgehog, when it falls in their way, 



without discovering any inclination to 



Hedgehog. seize it. Of these, however, there are 



some which, like the fox, have had the 



address to master it, though of the martin, the polecat, the ferret, 



the weasel, or any of the birds of prey, it has no dread. 



When at large in the country, they are generally found in 

 woods, under the trunks of old trees, as also in the clefts of rocks. 

 It is probable that they do not climb up trees, as some naturalists 

 have affirmed, nor that they make use of their prickles to carry off 

 the fruit ; it is with their mouth they seize it ; and though they 

 are very numerous in our forests, observers have never seen one 

 upon a tree. They always remain at the foot, in some hollow space, 

 or under moss. They remain in a state of inactivity all day ; they 

 only venture abroad by night, and seldom approach human habita- 

 tions. They sleep during the winter ; and therefore everything 

 that has been said of their laying up provisions for that season 

 must be false. They at no time eat much, and can subsist very 

 long without any food whatever. Hedgehogs are occasionally 

 eaten, and their flesh is said to be delicate food ; their skin is not 

 any longer converted to the smallest use, though the ancients used 

 it for the purpose of a clothes-brush. 



The Hedgehog may be rendered domestic, and in that state 

 is very useful in destroying cockroaches and beetles, which he pur- 

 sues and devours with great activity. He is believed also to destroy 

 mice nearly if not quite as well as a cat. A Hedgehog belonging 

 to the proprietor of an inn at Felton, in Northumberland, was taught 

 to perform perfectly the duty of a turnspit dog. It ran familiarly 

 about the house, and was very obedient. 



