O F S E L B O R N E. 77 
are ferviceable, as they deftroy a very troublefome weed ; but 
they deface the walks in fome meafure by digging little round 
holes. It appears, by the dung that they drop upon the turf, 
that beetles are no inconfiderable part of their food. In Jnyie laft I 
procured a litter of four or five young hedge-hogs, which appeared 
to be about five or fix days old : they, I find, like puppies, are 
born blind, and could not fee when they came to my hands. No 
doubt their fpines are foft and flexible at the tim.c of their birth, or 
elfe the poor dam would have but a bad time of it in the critical mo- 
ment of parturition: but it is plain that they foon harden; for thefe 
little pigs had fuch fliff prickles on their backs and fides as would 
eafily have fetched blood, had they not been handled with caution. 
Their fpines are quite white at this age; and they have little hang- 
ing ears, which I do not remember to be difcernible in the old 
ones. They can, in part, at this age draw their fkin down over 
their faces ; but are not able to contrad themfelves into a ball, as 
they do, for the fake of defence, when full grown. The reafon, I 
fuppofe, is, becaufe the curious mufcle that enables the creature 
to roll itfelf up in a ball was not then arrived at it's full tone 
and firmn^fs. Hedge-hogs make a deep and warm hyhcrnaculum 
with leaves and mofs, in which they conceal themfelves for thet 
winter : but I never could find that they ftored in any winter 
provifion, as fome quadrupeds certainly do. 
I have difcovered an anecdote with refped: to the fieldfare 
(turdus pilaris), which I think is particular enough : this bird, 
though it fits on trees in the day-time, and procures the greateft 
part of it's food from white-thorn hedges ; yea, moreover, builds 
on very high trees; as may be fecn by the fdum fuecica; yet 
always appears with us to rooft on the ground. Tliey are ieen to 
come in flocks jufi; before it is dark, and to fettle and neftle 
among 
