THE HEDBEHOG. 



snch an' extent in the hedgehog. By means of this mnscle the 

 hedgehog is enabled to retain its position when it has curled 

 itself into a ball. The muscle is not so verj powerfal on the 

 back, but is enormously large along the sides. When, there- 

 fore, the hedgehog fears an enemy, it tucks its head under its 

 breast, at the same time drawing its legs within the scope of 

 this muscle, which, by its contraction, forms a complete rope- 

 round the body, binding it together with such force that the 

 animal cannot be opened without rending asunder this mnscle : 

 however, there are no animals who would attempt such a feat ; 

 for, at the same time that the animal curls itself round, the 

 contraction of the muscle draws all the spines upright, and 

 offers a chevcmx-de-frise which few wish to encounter." 



Gipsies and that sort of folk declare that, for eating, the 

 hedgehog is to be preferred to the duck or chicken; and it 

 should be borne in mind that evidence derived from such a 

 source should by no means be despised. Were honest house- 

 dweUers the witnesses, it might be supposed that economy had 

 to do with the choice ; but, as a rule, hedgehogs and fowls cost 

 the gipsy the one no more than the other, and therefore his 

 judgment may be regarded as impartial. The gipsy cooks his 

 he^ehog in the same way as he cooks any duck or chicken 

 that may wander into his tent. The bristles are first singed 

 off, or nearly, and then the carcase, encased in a pasty of fine 

 clay, is buried in the glowing ■ ashes of the camp fire. When 

 the clay cracks, the hedgehog is known to be done, and on being 

 disentombed, it is reeking and delicious ; the outer skin has 

 peeled off, leaving it deKcately white, and though, as may have 

 been observed, the process of emboweUing has not been per- 

 formed, if it is opened now, the whole of the intestines will be 

 found to have shrivelled together, and come away in a dry mass. 

 Persons who have had an opportunity of tasting a fowl cooked 

 in this way, declare that stove-cooked poultry bears no sort of 

 comparison with it for excellence. 



Should the reader, hitherto hedgehogless, be inclined to keep 

 one of these interesting creatures, he must be prepared at first 

 for some little trouble. It will be as shy as a strange cat, and 

 as inclined to hostility, making its appearance only when hungry, 

 and then vanishing, goodness knows where — under the floor- 

 boards, probably, or up the chimney. This state of things, 

 however, will not continue, especially if it be fed by one person, 

 and with tolerable regularity. It is popularly believed that if 

 the hedgehog is once renderei* ** drunk and incapable," he will 



