HEDGEHOG. 107 



that the hinder extremities of the Hare were paralyzed, 

 which more careful observation proved to have resulted 

 from a bite across the loins, where the fur was wet with 

 saliva. The Hedgehog had rolled itself up at the report 

 of the gun, and was found lying a few inches only from 

 its victim, which would doubtless have been speedily 

 killed and devoured. This carnivorous propensity of 

 the Hedgehog is strikingly shown by the following 

 passage in a communication by Major Spicer to the 

 Zoologist (vol. xvi.) : — " A friend of mine was one 

 day passing under a rookery, and was attracted by a 

 young rook on the ground, having fallen from its nest 

 before it could fly, which was making a great noise, 

 squalling most lustily, and on reaching the spot he found 

 that a Hedgehog had got hold of him, having seized him 

 by the back, and was mouthing and worrying him, and 

 would no doubt soon have finished him had not^my friend 

 rescued him and destroyed the Hedgehog." 



We have also had frequent opportunities of confirming 

 what we have already advanced respecting the habit of 

 the Hedgehog of feeding upon worms and moUusca. 

 Large earthworms are taken and eaten in the dewy 

 summer evenings when out of their holes, the animal 

 commencing at one end and turning the worm from side 

 to side of the mouth. The operation is a slow one, and 

 appears to be performed wholly by the molar teeth. Al- 

 though snails would seem to be a very probable food, 

 and have been already mentioned as such, it may not be 

 uninteresting to state, that in examining the contents of 

 the stomach, we have never detected evidences of the 

 shells of the larger species, although numerous fragments 

 of the minute and thin-shelled Helices, such as Zonites 

 and Vitrina, have been present. The small slug, Limax 

 agrestis, is a favourite morsel with the Hedgehog, and is 



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