164 URCHIN. Class I. 



it is covered by a few scattered hairs ; the tipper 

 part of the head, the sides, and the rump, are 

 clothed with strong stiff hairs, approaching the 

 nature of bristles, of a yellowish and cinereous 

 hue. The legs are short, of a dusky color, and 

 almost bare ; the toes on each foot are five in 

 number, long, and separated the whole way ; the 

 thumb, or interior toe, is much shorter than the 

 others ; the claws long, 6*ut weak ; the whole 

 upper part of the body and sides are closely 

 covered with strong spines, of an inch in length, 

 and very sharp pointed ; their lower part is 

 white, the middle black, the points white. The 

 eyes are small, and placed high in the head ; the 

 ears are round, pretty large, and naked. The 

 mouth is small, but well furnished with teeth ; 

 in each jaw are two sharp pointed cutting teeth ; 

 in the upper jaw are on each side four tushes, 

 and five grinders ; in the lower jaw on each side 

 are three tushes, pointing obliquely forward; 

 and beyond those, four grinders. 

 Manners. The hedge hog is a nocturnal animal, keeping 

 retired in the day, but is in motion the whole 

 night, in search of food. It generally resides 

 in small thickets, in hedges, or in ditches cover- 

 ed with bushes, lying well wrapped up in moss, 

 grass, or leaves. Its food is roots, fruits, worms, 

 and insects : it lies under the undeserved re- 



