The Hedgehog. 
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, how- 
ever, sometimes destroys eggs, and has been known to 
attack frogs, mice, and even toads, when pressed by 
hunger ; it will also occasionally eat the tuberous roots 
of plants, boring under the root, so as to devour it, and 
yet leave the stem and leaves untouched. The Hedge- 
hog 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 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. 
In times when insect food is scarce he will also regale 
himself upon apples and pears which have fallen from the 
trees, but a glance at the structure of the creature ought 
to be sufficient to convince any one that the charges often 
brought against him of climbing trees to detach the 
fruit which he is said afterwards to carry off by the 
ingenious expedient of throwing himself down upon it 
from the branches so as to attach it to his spines, are 
totally without foundation. 
Hi & 
