INSECT-EATING MAMMALS 57 



young born at a time varies from four to six. The young- 

 are born blind, and nearly naked, the sprouting spines being 

 white in colour, and quite flexible. Nor are they at this tender 

 age able to roll themselves up, which habit would be of little 

 use to them then, since the undeveloped spines would offer 

 no protection. Breeding between hedgehogs takes place in 

 May or June, and the young are born after only a month's, 

 gestation. Sometimes a second litter is produced in October. 



The use of the spines as a protection is seen at once when the 

 hedgehog, on the approach of anything which is likely to be an 

 enemy, rolls itself up into a prickly ball. The head and all four 

 limbs are tucked into the soft belly, and the creature becomes 

 almost a ball in shape. It is doubtful if it would have lingered 

 as a common animal in Europe for several million years had it 

 not very early in its history developed this protective coat. 

 Practically no enemy but man can kill it with certainty under 

 ordinary conditions. It is said, however, that the long and 

 strong claws of the badger serve sometimes to tear open the 

 roUed-up hedgehog, which is then attacked from its hairy belly 

 and eviscerated. The fox is also said to be able, by various 

 clever dodges, to injure the hedgehog and cause it to open, 

 such as, for instance, pushing it or rolling it towards the edge 

 of a bank, and thus letting it fall from a height so that the 

 shock bruises the spines, or stuns the hedgehog, and causes it 

 to relax. 



During the winter — generally commencing in December — the 

 hedgehog goes into retirement under a mass of dead leaves, or 

 in some cranny lined with moss. Here, tightly rolled up into a 

 ball, it becomes absolutely torpid, and sleeps till the first warm 

 day in March. During this period it is not known to eat, and, 

 unlike other hibernating animals, lays up no store of food. 



The habits of the hedgehog are mainly nocturnal, though 

 occasionally they are seen moving about in the daytime. None 

 of the Insectivora (another sign of lowly development) possess a 

 loud Or varied voice. The hedgehog is a silent animal, but can 

 apparently squeal and cry when caught in a trap. Ordinarily, it 



