The Hedgehog. 
13 
The Hedgehogs echinus, or urchin, is often mentioned 
by Shakspeare and other poets. Lyly declares of this 
little animal that he “ evermore lodgeth in the thornes 
bicause he himself is so full of prickells ” ( Euphues , 
p. 373); and Chester, whose singular poem, Love's Martyr , 
has recently been edited by Dr. Grosart for the Hew 
Shakspere Society, says of him :— 
“ The hedgehogge hath a sharps quiche thorned garment, 
That on his backe doth serve him for defence : 
He can presage the winds incontinent, 
And hath good knowledge in the difference 
Betweene the southerne and the northern wind, 
These vertnes are allotted him by kind. 
Whereon in Constantinople, that great city, 
A marchant in his garden gave one nourishment: 
By which he knew that winds true certainty, 
Because the hedgehogge gave him just presagement: 
Apples, or pears, or grapes, such is his meate, 
Which on his backe he carries for to eate.” 
(Love's Martyr , p. 111.) 
Thomas Fuller, in his work, The Worthies of England , 
alludes to a superstition which has not yet died out in 
rural districts. Describing the county of Hertfordshire, 
he writes:— 
11 Plenty of hedgehogs are found in this high-woodland county, 
where too often they suck the kine, though the dayry-maids conne 
them small thanks for sparing their pains in milking them. A 
creature alwayes in his posture of defence, carrying a stand of pikes 
on his back, so that if as well victualled as armed, he may hold out a 
siege against any equal opposition.” (Yol. ii. p. 426.) 
Amongst other miseries inflicted upon him by his 
harsh taskmaster, Caliban complains of spirits— 
“ Like hedgehogs which 
Lie tumbling in my barefoot way and mount 
Their pricks at my footfall.” 
(Tempest, ii. 2, 10.) 
