48 
NATURAL. HISTORY 
HEDGEHOG. 
A Hedgehog is rather smaller than a rab- 
bit, but more like a hog; being covered all 
over with sharp thorny hair, as well as on 
the face and feet, and those sharp prickles 
covered with a kind of soft moss : but when 
it is angry, or gathers its food, it strikes 
them, by natural instinct, as sharp as pins 
or needles. He has two holes under his 
tail to discharge his excrements; which no 
creature living has besides. His common 
food is apples, worms, or grapes. When it 
is apprehensive of danger, it draws itself up 
as round as a football, so that nothing appears 
but the prickles. Even from its fear, this 
animal obtains another engine of security. 
The smell of its urine, which, when attacked) 
it generally emits, is sufficient to make its 
enemy quit the field. 
