THE HEDGEHOG. 105 
Hedgehog chooses to relax the peculiar muscle which governs the spines, 
and which serves to retain the creature in its coiled attitude. The point of 
the quill or spine is directed towards the tail. It will be seen that the quill 
is not unlike a large pin, being sharply pointed at one ex- 
tremity, furnished at the other with a round bead-like caine 
head, and rather abruptly bent near the head. If the 
skin be removed from the Hedgehog, the quills are seen 
to be pinned as it were, through the skin, being retained i 
by their round heads, which are acted upon by the peculiar muscle which has 
already been mentioned. 
It is evident, therefore, that whenever the head of the quill is drawn back- 
ward by the contraction of the muscle, the point of the quill is erected in pro- 
portion to the force which is exerted upon the head, so that when the animal 
is rolled up, and the greatest tension is employed, the quills stand boldly out 
from the body, and present the bayonet-like array of points in every direction. 
These curiously-formed spines are useful to the Hedgehog for other pur- 
aN hn 
TDN 
SPINE OF HEDGEHOG. 
HEDGEHOG.—(Zrinaceus Europaus.) 
poses than the very obvious one of protecting the creature from the attacks 
of its foe. They are extremely elastic, as is found to be the case with hairs 
and quills of all descriptions, and the natural elasticity is increascd by the 
sharp curve into which they are bent at their insertion into the skin. Pro- 
tected by this defence, the Hedgehog is enabled to throw itself from consider- 
able heights, to curl itself into a ball as it descends, and to reachythe ground 
without suffering any harm from its fall. A Hedgehog has been seen 
repeatedly to throw itself from a wall, some twelve or fourteen feet in height, 
and to fall upon che hard ground without appearing even to be incon\enienced 
by its tumble. On reaching the ground it would unroll itself and trot off 
with perfect unconcern. p ; ' : 
Marching securely under the guardianship of its thorn-spiked armour, the 
Hedgehog recks little of any foe, saveman. For, with this single exception, 
there are, in our land at least, no enemies that need be dreaded by so well- 
