Quadrupeds. 715 



some decayed wood in a rick-yard, a nest of hedgehogs, together with the old dam. 

 The litter consisted of three individuals, about the size of a cricket-hall, and all armed 

 with the usual complement of prickly spears. The nest was nothing more than a few 

 straws, which afforded them but very moderate accommodation. They had at this 

 early period the power of contracting and expanding their spines, and when one indi- 

 vidual touched another in the nest, both immediately rolled themselves up, gave a pe- 

 culiar jerk to their bodies, and made a menacing hissing noise. They were probably 

 at this period about a fortnight old. They coiled themselves up with such precision 

 and firmness, that it was difficult to imagine them to be living animals, and they 

 might have been rolled on a table or floor for hours, apparently without suffering any 

 inconvenience. It is somewhat remarkable that although when in the position just 

 described, they must necessarily be precluded the possibility of hearing and seeing, 

 yet they seem to have the power of ascertaining to a certainty whether danger be near, 

 and will never uncoil themselves so long as an enemy is at hand. At the time of their 

 birth the young have not their prickles, but are covered with a coat of bristly hairs, 

 which grow gradually stronger with the growth of the animal, until they have attained 

 their usual hardness. The skin of the hedgehog emits a strong unpleasant smell, 

 which enables dogs very readily to find them, and numbers are taken in this manner 

 and destroyed. — Id. 



Note on the Spines of the young Hedgehog. The spines of the young hedgehog are 

 perfectly formed, although soft, even at the time of birth : they almost immediately 

 harden, and in the course of a day or two become as stiff and prickly as those of the 

 adult animal. The observations of White of Selborne, and those of Mr. Bell, in his 

 ' History of British Quadrupeds,' may be consulted with advantage on this subject. — 

 Edward Newman. 



Facts as to the Habits of the Hedgehog. By W. H. S. 



Some years ago I sent several papers to a sporting periodical, then 

 and still deservedly in much repute, as to the fact of whether hedge- 

 hogs, when in their natural state, destroyed and consumed the eggs 

 of game, and were guilty of the acts laid against them by keepers and 

 others, of destroying the young of game also. And as I feel much in- 

 terest in the sombre habits and retired nature of this little animal, I 

 endeavoured to defend him from many of the prejudiced accusations 

 brought against him ; but I was met by the " facts " of an able con- 

 tributor and correspondent to the periodical alluded to, under the sig- 

 nature of " Laddie," whose facts, I fear, annihilated some, though not 

 all, of my suggestions of the poor urchin's innocence. Finally, our 

 correspondence concluded by my making the following appeal on be- 

 half of the hedgehog, as 1 could not refute the statements of Laddie, 

 and which I venture to transcribe, in order that the circumstances 

 may be fairly before your readers. 



