MOLE AND HEDGEHOG, 



79 



evenings ^YC see him gravely walking over the turf, feeding as 

 he goes, or hear him rustle in the green corn, where, no 

 doubt, he finds a good supply of succulent insects and grubs. 



He is not, however, always sedate in his movements 

 but can bestir himself on some occasions and run with 

 considerable activity. I once, rather rashly, passed a night 

 in the same room with a hedgehog, gaining some insight 

 into his ways at the cost of most of a night's rest. Confined 

 at first in a basket, he made such a noise there after the 

 candle was put out that I liberated him, and then the game 

 began in real earnest. That hedgehog spent the whole of 

 the night in running up and down and round and round the 

 room at quite a quick pace, varying this amusement with 

 endeavours to force himself between the walls and any piece 

 of furniture standing close to them. At length, in pushing 

 himself behind a big sponge - bath which was tilted 

 against the wall, he brought this sonorous object down upon 

 him with a crash. A few minutes' quiet ensued, and then 

 he wriggled out again to resume his trot. During the 

 whole time he kept up a loud snufEng noise, and I subse- 

 quently ascertained that a hedgehog, while thus engaged^ 

 carries his nose in the air like the proverbial pig in a 

 hurricane. 



The usual food of the hedgehog consists of large insects^ 

 worms, slugs, and snails, but roots and other vegetable 

 substances are also eaten, as also occasionally are mice 

 frogs, snakes, and eggs. It is simply in regard to its food 

 that the hedgehog affects the agriculturist and horticulturist. 

 In the garden it is most beneficial, and upon the farm also, 

 it undoubtedly does a great deal of good by devouring 

 noxious insects and various smiall vermin. Such, then, are 

 its virtues, with the addition that it is said to be very 

 good to eat, unreasonable prejudice to the contrary notwith- 

 standing. Of its faults, which are few, the gravest is that 

 of egg-stealing, and it has been certainly proved that the 



