365 Ground Vermin. 



grouse, it is all one ; whilst as a destroyer of game nests it 

 is an equally objectionable creature in field, hedgerow, and 

 covert. Whatever its virtues may be outside the lands of 

 the preserver, it is singularly destructive within them, and 

 should be captured or destroyed with no uncertain hand. 



I have remarked that hedgehogs increase suddenly or 

 almost disappear in or from certain lands with rather 

 curious inconsistency. Sometimes, when one is fairly sure 

 they have been cleared out from a preserve they reappear 

 in considerable numbers, and then again, when many are 

 about, the numbers caught or destroyed are in no way 

 sufficient to account for their total disappearance. 



The nest of the hedgehog is generally placed in some 

 warm nook at the root of a tree, or in a fissure of a 

 decayed tree itself, care always being observed that the 

 entrance is large and easy of access, so that in the event 

 of a hurried retreat it may quickly enter, coil itself into a 

 ball, and seek defence against man or dog. Often the 

 retreat is chosen among rocks or large stones, and a warm, 

 dry, sheltered crevice provides the home of this eminently 

 interesting animal, while again it may adopt a rabbit 

 burrow for its nest, whence the rightful owners, no doubt, 

 beat a hasty retreat. 



The greater number of hedgehogs hibernate during the 

 inclemency of the winter months, though not all, as 

 occasionally these animals have been observed passing the 

 winter in the same manner as the summer, except always 

 that their comfort cannot be so great, nor their food so 

 plentiful. However, those and they are by far the 

 greater number which pass into the peculiar state of 

 hibernation do not provide any food for themselves, and 

 are consequently of great interest for this reason. 



As soon as the winter is over, and they again take up 

 their usual routine of life, they make preparations for 



