flapping makes a noife much like a drum for about 
the fpace of a minute; then the noife ceafcs for 
half a quarter of an hour, after which it begins 
again. By this noife we were direfted to the 
place where the unfortunate bird fat, and found it 
on a rotten rcod'y tree. By flapping one wing 
againft the other, it means to call it's mate; and 
tiie humming noife which enfues thereon may be 
heard half a quarter of a league,' 
Heath-Cock, Black and Spotted. This 
fpecies is a native of Hudfon's Bay. It is larger 
than the partridge, but fmaller than the pheafant. 
The bill is like tliat of the hen, of a dark lead-co- 
lour; the noftrils are covered with black feathers; 
the fore-part and under-fide of the head are black; 
and between the angles of the mouth and the eyes 
there is a white fpot, and another behind the eyes. 
White lines proceed from the corners of the 
mouth; and, paffing under the eyes, tend dov/^n- 
wards, and unite under the throat. The top of 
the head, the neck, back, and coverts of the tail, 
are variegated with black and duflcy brown; as are 
alfo the covert- feathers of the wings: the quills of 
the wings are dufl<:y, edged with brown ; and the 
tail-feathers are black, tipt with orange. The 
breaft and belly are black; the lower belly and 
thighs are black, mottled with brov>?n and white; 
the legs are covered down to the feet with flender 
brown feathers, tranfverfely waved with black 
lines; and the hinder toe is hid in the feathers. 
HEATOTOLT. An American bird, de- 
fcribed by Nieremberg, and called by fome au- 
thors avis venti. It is remarkable on account of 
a very large and round creft of whitifli feathers on 
it's head; it'c breaft is of a brownifh grey colour; 
it's belly is white ; and it's feet are yellow : it's 
tail, when expanded, is round, variegated with 
black and v/hite; and it's back and wings are 
black. 
HEDGE- FIOG. A genus of animals having 
five toes on each foot, and the body covered with 
ftrong fhort fpines. 
Hedge-Hog, Common; the Erinaceus Eu- 
ropeus of Linnaeus. Though the Eledge-Hog 
has a very formidable appearance, it is one of the 
moft harmlefs creatures in the univerfc. Incapa- 
ble, or unwilling to offend, all it's precautions are 
only direfled to it's own fecurity ; and it is armed 
with a thoufand points, not to invade, but to repel 
an enemy. While other animals truft to their 
force, their cunning, or their fwiftnefs, this crea- 
ture, deftitute of all thefe, has but one expedient 
for it's fafety, from which alone it often finds pro- 
tedlion: as foon as it perceives itfelf attacked, it 
withdraws all it's vulnerable parts, rolls itfelf into 
a kind of ball, and prefents nothing but it's fpines 
to the foe; and thus, while it refrains from attempt- 
ing to injure any other quadruped, it renders itlelf 
in a great meafure proof againft violence. 
The head, back, and fides, of this animal, are 
covered with ftrong fharp fpines or prickles ; the 
nofe, breaft, and belly, are cloathed with fine foft 
hair; the legs are fhort, almoft naked, and of a 
dufl<y colour; the ears are broad, round, and 
. naked ; the eyes are fmall, and placed high in the 
head ; the mouth is alfo fmall, but well furniftied 
with teeth, ferving however only to chew it's 
food, being of little ufe either to attack it's ene- 
mies or to defend itfelf. The toes on each foot, 
v/hich are five in number, are long and ferrated ; 
the tail is little more than an inch long, and fo 
concealed by the fpines, as fcarcely to be vifible. 
The prickles are about an inph in length, and very 
fliarp-pointed; their points are white, the middle 
is black, and the lower part is of the fame colour 
with the tips. From tlie point of the nofe to the 
extremity of the tail, this animal meafures about 
ten inches when extended. 
We have already hinted, that the Hedge-Hog, 
on the fmalleft appearance of danger, rolls itfelf up 
into a lump ; and, altering it's whole figure, prefents 
only a roundiftTi mafs of prickles impervious on 
every fide. In this form it patiently waits till it's 
enemies either pafs by, or are fatigued with fruit- 
lefs attempts to annoy it. The cat, the weafel, the 
ferret, and the martin, foon decline the combat; 
and even the dog generally makes his attacks in 
vain. Accumulated danger only increafes this 
animal's precautions to keep on it's guard. In 
attempting to bite, the allailant more frequently 
receives than inflifts a wound. The enraged dog 
may bark, and roll the animal along with his paws; 
but it ftill patiently fubmits to every indignity in 
order to remain fecure. At length the dog, after 
expreffing his chagrin by barking, leaves the inof- 
fenfive animal where he found it; which perceiv- 
ing itfelf freed from danger, ventures to peep out 
from it's ball; and, if not interrupted a fecond 
time, advances deliberately to it's retreat. 
Like moft wild animals, the Hedge-Hog fpends 
the greateft part of the day in fleep, and is princi- 
pally in motion during the night. It generally 
refides in fmall thickets, in hedges, or in ditches 
covered v/ith bufnes, m.aking a iiole about fix or 
eiglit inches deep, v/hich it lines with mofs, grafs, 
or leaves. It feeds on roots, fruits, wonv^s, and 
infefts; but is falfely charged with fucking cows, 
and wounding their udders: indeed, the iinall- 
nefs of it's mouth is fufficient to exculpate it from 
this reproach. It is alfo faid to be very deftruc- 
tive to gardens and orchards, where it will roll it- 
felf, according to the opinion of the vulgar, 
amongft a heap of fruit, and thus carry off a large 
quantity on it's prickles: but this imputation is as 
ill-grounded as the form.er, fince it's fpines are 
evidently fo difpofed, that no fruit would ftick on 
them, even were the experiment attempted. In 
fhort, inftead of being a noxious animal, and de- 
ferving profcription, it feems to be very fervice- 
able in deftroying worms and infects, which are fo 
prejudicial to vegetation. 
But, as vulgar errors are not eafily eradicated, 
we fhall reft our opinion on the evidence of the 
celebrated M. de Buftbn. That naturalift acquits 
Pledge-Hogs of the charge of being mifchievous 
in gardens; but at the fame time accufes them of 
pra6lices which, from their form and habit, we 
ffiould be little inclined to fufpecft. ' I have often,' 
fays he, ' had the female and her young brought 
me about the beginning of June: they are gene- 
rally from three to five in number; at firft they are 
white, and only the rudiments of their fpines ap- 
pear. I was willing to rear fome of them, and ac- 
cordingly put the dam and her young into a tub, 
with abundant provifion; but the dam, inftead of 
fuckling her young, devoured them all, one after 
another. On another occafion, a Hedge-Hog that 
had made it's way into the kitchen, difcovered a 
little pot, in which was fome meat prepared for 
boiling: the mifchievous animal drew out the 
meat, and left it's excrements in the ftead. I kept 
males and females in the fame apartment, where 
they lived together, but never coupled. I per- 
mitted feveral of them to range my garden; they 
did 
