EUROPEAN HEDGEHOG. 543 
to differ in the shortness of its quills or spines. 
The structure of the teeth^ however, shews it to 
belong* to a different tribe. Indeed, if we thus 
arranged animals from external appearance alone, 
we might also place in the same tribe with the 
Hedgehog an animal entirely different in the 
structure of its mouth, and in no other particular 
allied to the Hedgehog and Porcupine, except in 
its quilly covering, viz. the aciileated Ant-Eater, 
already described under its proper genus. 
The Hedgehog is found in most of the tem- 
perate parts of Europe and Asia, and, accord- 
ing to Mr. Pennant, is also seen in Madagascar. 
It commonly measures about eleven inches from 
the nose to the tip of the tail, which is about an 
inch long. Its colour is generally grey-brown, 
but it sometimes is found totally M^iite, or of a 
yellowish-white; instances of which may be seen 
in the Leverian Museum: similar specimens are 
also found in the works of Seba and other authors. 
It feeds principally on the roots of vegetables ; 
but it also eats worms, as well as beetles, and 
other insects. It wanders about chiefly by night, 
and during the day conceals itself in its hole, under 
the roots of some tree, or mossy bank. It produces 
four or five young at a birth, which are soon co- 
vered with prickles like those of the parent animal,, 
but shorter and weaker. The nest is large, and 
is composed of moss. 
The Hedgehog, when disturbed, rolls itself up 
into a globular form, and thus presents to its ad- 
versary an invulnerable ball of prickles. From 
