BRITISH MAMMALS 



how the two latter animals manage to do this. Mr. Millais considers 

 [Mammals of Great Britain and Ireland^ that they may employ the 

 same method as a dog he once met with, which, in attacking, worked 

 with the nails of the forepaws until he got one of the latter fixed 

 against the chest of his quarry "while with the other he drew up the 

 head and forced it back. Then he gave one nip and the tragedy was over." 



The cries of a Hedgehog when attacked by a Badger are said to 

 be pitiful [Fields March 23, 1875). 



Referring to the strength and elasticity of the Hedgehog's armour, 

 Bell in his British Quadrupeds (ist ed. p 77) says, "I have repeatedly 

 seen a domesticated Hedgehog in my possession run toward the precipitous 

 wall of an area and without hesitation, without a moment's pause of prepara- 

 tion, throw itself off, and contracting at the same instant into a ball, in which 

 condition it reached the ground from a height of twelve or fourteen feet : 

 after a few moments it would unfold itself and run off unhurt." I have 

 noticed similar tactics while sketching one of these animals placed on a 

 table, when it would often throw itself over in order to reach the floor. 



The shortness of the legs causes a characteristic creeping action 

 in the movements of the Hedgehog, as he makes his way hither and 

 thither in a somewhat stealthy manner after the beetles and other insects 

 which form the chief part of his food. 



This animal is widely distributed over Europe from Scandinavia and Russia 

 to the Mediterranean Countries, and in Asia reaches eastwards as far as China. 



It is plentiful throughout the greater part of the British Islands, and 

 though scarce in the Northern Highlands of Scotland has been recorded 

 by Dr. Eagle Clarke at an altitude of 1400 feet in Inverness-shire 

 {Scottish naturalists December 19 17). It is common in Ireland. 



The Hedgehog is more or less nocturnal in its habits, though often coming 

 out to feed in the open about sundown and occasionally earlier in the day. 



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