HEDGEHOG. 
opinion of the vulgar, it rolls itself among a 
heap of fruit, and thus contrives to carry off 
a large quantity, which are transfixed on it's 
prickles. This imputation, however, is as 
unfounded as the former; since it's spines are 
evidently so disposed, that no fruit will stick 
on them, even when the experiment is at- 
tempted by human hands. In short, instead 
of being a noxious animal, and deserving pro- 
scription, it seems to us a very serviceable 
agent for destroying worms and inse6ls, which 
are so prejudicial to vegetation. 
As vulgar errors are not easily eradicated, 
we shall support, our opinion by the testimony 
of the celebrated Buffon. 
That naturalist, compleatly acquits Hedge- 
hogs from the charge of being mischievous in 
gardens; but, at the same time, he accuses 
them of pra61:ices which their form and gene- 
ral habits would little incline us to suspe61:. 
" I have often," says he, " had the female 
and her young, brouglit me in the month of 
June : they are generally from three to five in 
number ; 
