THE HEDGEHOG. 
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have heard of more than one instance in which the first Hedgehog brought into the house as a Beetle- 
killer actually died of overfeeding, and at least one other had to be procured before the plague of 
Cockroaches was got rid of. 
Besides insects, the Hedgehog feeds on earthworms, slugs, and snails, and in destroying the latter 
it may certainly be regarded as a friend to the gardener. The consumption of earthworms is performed 
in a rather curious manner. These animals are seized when they are enjoying the damp freshness of 
the air out of their holes in summer evenings, and slowly passed into the mouth of their enemy from 
one end to the other apparently by the simple process of mastication with the molar teeth, the uncon- 
sumed portion of the worm being constantly transferred from one side of the mouth to the other, so 
that both sides of the jaw may come into play. This must be an unpleasant operation for the worm, 
much as its captor may enjoy it. It is uncertain whether the larger snails are eaten by the Hedgehog, 
no fragments of their shells having been found in the stomachs of specimens examined, but the smaller 
species, belonging to the genera Vitrina and Zonitis, certainly form a portion of its diet. Mr. Bell 
says that “ the small Slug, Limax ar/reslis, is a favourite morsel with the Hedgehog, and is often 
scratched out and eaten in the summer months when concealed in the day in crevices, or amongst the 
roots of grass or other close herbage/* 
The Hedgehog does not, however, confine itself exclusively to the consumption of invertebrate 
prey ; Frogs and Toads, Mice, and even Snakes, are not exempt from its attacks. Mr. Broderip many 
years ago published in the “ Zoological Journal” an interesting account of an experiment made by 
Professor Buckland to ascertain how the Hedgehog deals with a prey apparently so formidable as a Snake. 
He says : — “ The Professor procured a common Snake, and also a Hedgehog, and put them into a box 
together. Whether or not the former recognised its enemy was not apparent ; it did not dart from 
the Hedgehog, but kept creeping gently round the box; the Hedgehog was rolled up, and did not appear 
to see the Snake. The Professor then laid the Hedgehog on the Snake, with that part of the ball where 
the head and tail meet downwards, and touching it. The Snake proceeded to crawl ; the Hedgehog 
started, opened slightly, and seeing what was under it, gave the Snake a hard bite, and instantly rolled 
itself up again. It soon opened a second and again a third time, repeating the bite ; and by the third 
bite the back of the Snake was broken. This done, the Hedgehog stood by the Snake's side, and passed 
the whole body of the Snake successively through its jaws, cracking it, and breaking the bones at 
intervals of half an inch or more, by which operation the Snake was rendered motionless. The Hedge- 
hog then placed itself at the tip of the Snake's tail, and began to eat upwards, as one would eat a 
radish, without intermission, but slowly, till half the Snake was devoured. The following morning the 
remaining half was also completely eaten up.” According to the statements of some observers, the 
Hedgehog will destroy not only the harmless common Snake, but also the Viper, and Professor Lenz has 
described in great detail the mode in which the Hedgehog disposes of this formidable antagonist. The 
strange part of his account is that the Hedgehog pursues the Viper for some time, smelling at it and 
licking it, and submitting to repeated bites from the venomous reptile before proceeding to extremities. 
It then kills the Viper by crushing its head, and proceeds to devour it from that end, without 
showing any signs of being injured by the poison of the Snake. This curious immunity is said to 
extend also to other poisons, some of which are at least doubtful ; but it seems certain that the Hedge- 
hog will devour the ordinary Blister Beetles ( Cantharides ) without inconvenience, although a very 
small dose of them would destroy much larger animals. Tschudi, however, has remarked that the 
acrid liquid secreted by the skin of Toads is disagreeable to the Hedgehog ; in eating a Toad he rubs 
his muzzle on the ground after each bite. 
From the narrow point of view of usefulness to man, we may tip to this point have a very 
favourable opinion of the Hedgehog, but he has some other peculiarities which may perhaps be regarded 
as drawbacks. One of these is his attacking young game, and another his fondness for eggs. One 
of the editors of Bell's “ British Quadrupeds” mentions an instance of the capture of a young Hare 
by a Hedgehog. A Hedgehog has also been caught in the act of worrying a young Book which had 
fallen from the nest ; and the general testimony of sportsmen and gamekeepers is to the effect that 
no small and young animals will come amiss to the Hedgehog. There is also no doubt that the 
Hedgehog will feed on the eggs of birds wherever it finds them; and it is even stated that it will make 
its way into a fowl-house, turn the hen off her eggs, and devour the latter. 
