56 A DESCRIPTION OF 
SECTION II. Ingcct=cating &n{mal)S. 
THE HEDGEHOG. (Erinaceus Europaus.) 
THIS animal is something like a porcupine in miniature, 
and he is covered all over with strong and sharp spines or 
prickles, which he erects when irritated. He is no more 
than ten inches in length ; and, by rolling himself up in 
the shape of a ball, he can resist the attack of his strong- 
est enemies, among which are the cat, the weasel, the 
marten, and the dog. His common food consists of 
worms, slugs, and snails ; and thus, far from being a 
noxious animal in a garden, he is a very useful one, 
as he feeds upon all the insects he can find. Hedge- 
hogs inhabit most parts of Europe. Notwithstanding 
its formidable appearance, the Hedgehog is one of the 
most harmless animals in the world. While other crea- 
tures trust to their force, their cunning, or their swiftness, 
this quadruped, destitute of all, has but one expedient for 
safety, and from this alone it generally finds protection. 
The instant it perceives an enemy, it withdraws all its 
vulnerable parts, rolls itself into a ball, and presents 
nothing to view but a round mass of spines, impervious 
on every side. When the Hedgehog is thus rolled up, 
the cat, the weasel, the ferret, and the marten, after 
