32 



THE FOOD OF ANIMALS 



those of the Carnivora, exhibiting no prominent tusks or scissor- 

 like carnassials. Both incisors and canines are small and pointed, 

 while the crowns of the cheek-teeth are studded with sharp cusps. 

 Taken as a whole the ;eeth form a very effective trap for insects 

 and the like. 



The Common Hedgehog {Erinaceus Europcsus) (fig. 324) is 

 a good type of the larger and more sluggish species. Its snout 

 is unusually short for an Insec- 

 tivore, and its diet is somewhat 



Fig. 324.— Hedgehog {Erinaceus Europmts) and Young. A rolled-up individual is shown on the right. 



mixed, including not only insects, worms, and other invertebrates, 

 but also frogs, snakes, eggs, small birds, mice, and fruit. Re- 

 garding its ability as a mouser Carl Vogt speaks as follows : — "The 

 movements of the Hedgehogs are sluggish, their steps almost 

 tottering, their gait clumsy but noiseless; yet, in spite of this ap- 

 parent clumsiness and helplessness, the hedgehog is perhaps even 

 better fitted for hunting mice than the cat. It patiently lies in wait 

 for the nimble rodent at the entrance of its hole, and even shows 

 some skill in reaching its prey by burrowing. The noise which 

 it makes in barns, cellars, and stables perhaps helps to drive away 

 the mice; so much, at least, is certain, that places visited by 

 hedgehogs are soon freed from rats and mice and all their 

 kindred." A remarkable peculiarity of the Hedgehog is its im- 



