did very little damage, and it was fcarcely percep- 
tible that they had been there they lived on the 
fruits which fell from the trees; they dug the 
earth into fhallow holes; tiiey eat caterpillars, bee- 
tles, and worms; and they were alfo very fond of 
ilefii, which they devoured either boiled or raw.' 
Thefe animals, which inhabit Europe and Ma- 
dagafcar, couple in the fpring, and bring forth 
about the beginning of fummer. They fleep dur- 
ing the winter; and confequently the ftories which 
have been propagated refpefting their providing 
againft that feafon are certainly f^lfe: they are at 
all times fatisfied with a fmall portion of food ; and 
are capable of fubfifting a long time without any 
aliment whatever. Like all other animals in a 
dormant ftate during the winter feafon, their blood 
is cold. Their Hefli, though generally rejefted as 
unfit for human food, is neverthelefs laid by fome 
to polTefs an excellent flavour. 
Hedge-Hog, Siberian; the Erinaceus Auri- 
tus. This fpecies, Vv'hich was firft defcribed by Dr. 
Pallas, is common in all the fouthern defarts from 
the Dan to the Oby. It is generally much inferior 
in fize to the com.mon kind ; but, beyond Baikal, 
it is found much larger than that fpecies. The 
ears are large>open, oval and naked, brown round 
the edges, and internally lined with foft whitiOi 
hairs; the upper part of the body is covered with 
flender brown fpines, furrounded at their bafes 
and near their extremities with a ring of white; 
the limbs and belly are cloathed with a moft ele- 
gant white foft fur; and the tail is extremely Ihort. 
Thefe animals^ which become extremely fat, 
fleep during the winter feafon in holes, each a 
few inches deep. Thev feed chiefly on infecfts; 
and it has been proved by experiments, that one 
of them v/ill eat upwards of a hundred cantharides 
without any fenfible injury. They pofltfs all the 
manners and habits of the common kind; rolling 
themfelves up on the approach of danger, and pa- 
tiently fubmitting to infult, provided they can pur- 
chafe fecurity. 
PiEDGE-HoG, Asiatic; the Tendrae of Buf- 
fon. Like the common Hedge-Hog, this animal 
is covered with prickles, though mixed in a greater 
proportion with hair ; but it does not defend itfelf 
by rolling up into a ball. It has a long flender 
nofe, fiiort round ears, and fliort legs; the face, 
throat, belly, buttocks, and legs, are thinly co- 
vered with fine whitifli hair; and the tail, which 
is very fliort, is covered with fpines. It is about 
the fize of the mole ; and inhabits Madagafcar, and 
feveral of the oriental ifles. 
Another variety, defcribed by M. Buffbn, and 
fomewhat larger, is armed with fpines only on 
the top and hind-part of the head, the top and 
fides of the neck, and the fhoulders; and the reft 
of the body is covered with yellov/ briftles, inter- 
mixed with a fmall quantity of black, which are 
longer than the others. 
Thefe animals, which are only varieties of the 
fame fpecies, have five toes on each foot, and in- 
habit the fame countries. They have grunting 
voices like hogs, grow extremely fat, and multi- 
ply prodigioufly. They frequent fliallow waters, 
whether frefh or fait; burrow on the land; and lie 
torpid fix months in the year, during which time 
their old hair falls off, and is renewed on their re- 
vival. Their flefh is foft, fcringy, and infipid; 
r.everthelefs, the Indians eat it, and even confider 
it as a peculiar delicacy. 
Hedge-Hog, Guiana; the Erinaceus Inauris 
H E L 
of Linnseus. This animal has no external earsy 
but only two orifices which ferve as auditory diifts. 
The head is fliort and thick; the brxk and fides 
are covered with fliort fpines of an afli-colour 
tinged with yellow; and the face, belly, legs, and 
tail, are invefted v/ith foft v/hidfli hair. The 
length of this animal is about eight inches; it's 
tail is fliort; and it's claws are long and crcoked. 
It is a native of the country from, which it receives 
it's name. 
EIedge-Hog, Sea. This creature is entirely 
covered with thick thorns or prickles; it's body is 
round; and it's eyes and tail are affixed to it's belly. 
Inftead of teeth, it is furniflied with two iinall hard 
ftones, an inch broad, with which it crufnes fea- , 
crabs, and other fliell-fifli, on which it fubfifl:s. 
It's prickles, which are as flharp as needles, are ei- 
ther raifcd or deprefl'ed at pleafure. In the mid- 
dle of the belly there is a Ibrt of bladder, or bag, 
filled with wind, of which excellent ifinglafs is 
made. It fwims very flowly ; and confequently 
v/ould be an eaiy prey for other fifli, was it not fo 
compleady armed with fpines. 
There are feveral fpecies of thefe animals, dif- 
fering from each other in fize, and in the difpofi- 
tion of their prickles : fome are not larger than a 
foot-ball, and others are as big as a twelve-inch 
diameter globe. Their fiefli is generally reckoned 
indifferent food, and fome fpecies are" abfolutely 
poifonous; neverthelefs, the Americans often 
amufe themfelves with the barren pleafure of catch- 
ing thefe frightful creatures by means of lines and 
hooks baited with pieces of the fea-crab. The 
animal approaches the bait with it's fpines flat- 
tened ; but, when hooked and fl:opped by the line, 
immediately all it's fpines are ereded; it's whole * 
body being armed in fuch a manner, that it is im- 
poflibleto lay hold of it: for this rcafon it is dragged 
to fome diftance from the water, where it quickly 
expires. 
HEDGE-SPARROW. The Englifli appel- 
lation for a fpecies of the motacilla. See Spar- 
Rov/, Hedge. 
HELEGUG. A provincial name fometimes 
ufed to exprefs the anas arftica Clufii, a web- 
footed fov/1 common on the Britifli coafcs. 
HELIOCENTROS. An appellation given 
by fome authors to a poifonous infed, called by 
Ariftotle phalangium dedticum, and by the Latins 
folipuga. 
HELIX. A kind of fhell-fifli, or teftaceous 
animal, always found floating on the water, and 
difl:inguiflied by the epithets of janthina and vio- 
lacea. It is about the fize of the fnail; and is 
lupported on the furface of the water by a fmall 
clufter of bubbles filled with air, and a tenacious 
flimy fubftance. This animal appears to be ovi- 
parous ; and thefe bubbles ferve only as a nidus for 
it's eggs. It is probable that it never dives to the 
bottom, nor voluntarily approaches any fiiore, the 
fliell being exceedingly thin and brittle. Every 
fliell contains a fmall quantity of fluid, of the moh. 
beautiful red purple colour that can be conceived : 
this gives a lafting and elegant tinge to linen cloth, 
and is by many efteemed the purpura of the an- 
cients. The Helix is found in the Mediter- 
ranean. 
HELMET PIGEON; the Columba Galeata 
of Moore, This bird receives it's name fronrj 
having it's head covered with plumage of a difl:in6t 
colour from that of the refl: of it's body, and ap- 
pearing fomewhat like a helmet. It is rather 
larger 
( 
