THE HEDGEHOG. 



Despite Ids spiky suit, our friend the hedgehog claims • 

 place in our category of Home Pets. "Why not ? TTia spikes 

 are for his enemies, not for his friends ; he is of a peaceable 

 disposition and easy of domestication; his habits are highly 

 curious as well as InstmctiTe and amusing, and he is able to 

 repay with ample interest the kindness you may bestow on 

 him. 



He bears a bad character ; bears it because he cannot help 

 himself; but he deserves it no more than many other harm- 

 less creatures against whom superstition sets its thick head. 

 The farmer detests the hedgehog. " Doesn't it steal my poultry, 

 and rob my hens of the very eggs they are sitting on ? " asks 

 the indignant man ; " doesn't the prickly little thing ndlje imj 

 cows in the night ? " To the first question it may be replied, 

 that the hedgehog is guilty. He does steal eggs ; but he never 

 steals more than he can eat, and those which he does eat are 

 consumed in a decent and clever way. He does not break the 

 egg and lick up all that may be saved, as would a bungling 

 animal ; he takes it gingerly between his forepaws, bites off the 

 small end, and sucks out all that the shell contains, without 

 wasting a drop. To the question, " Doesn't he milk my cows ?" 

 No, may be distinctly given as answer. It is impossible. It 

 could no more ta:li:e the cow's large teat into its tiny mouth 



