QUADRUPEDS. 57 
wounding themselves with the prickles, quickly decline 
the combat ; and the dog himself generally spends his 
time in empty menaces rather than in effectual efforts, 
while the little animal waits patiently till its enemy, by 
retiring, affords an opportunity for retreat. 
The female produces from two to four young ones at a 
birth ; when first born they are blind, and their spines are 
white and soft, but they become hard in a few days. The 
Hedgehog is said to suck the milk from cows, but this is 
impossible, as the mouth of the Hedgehog would not 
admit the teat of the cow. The Hedgehog, however, some- 
times destroys eggs, and it has been known to attack 
frogs, mice, and even toads when pressed by hunger ; it 
will also occasronally eat the tuberous roots of plants, 
boring under the root, so as to devour it, and yet leave 
the stem and leaves untouched. The Hedgehog makes 
himself a nest of leaves and soft wool for the winter, in the 
hollow trunk of an old tree, or in a hole in a rock or bank ; 
and here, having coiled himself up, he passes the winter in 
one long unbroken sleep. Hedgehogs may easily be 
tamed, and they are sometimes kept in the kitchens in 
London houses to destroy the black-beetles. The flesh of 
the Hedgehog is sometimes eaten ; especially by gipsies, 
who appear to consider it a delicacy. It is said to be 
well-tasted, and to have abundance of yellow fat. 
