THE SHREW MOUSE.

This pretty little animal is very like the Common Mouse, but is easily distinguished from it by the length of the nose, which is used for grubbing up the earth in search of earth-worms and insects.

The reader must not imagine that the Shrew has any connection with the true Mice. It belongs to an entirely different class of animals, its teeth being sharp and pointed, not unlike those of the Mole and the Hedgehog, whereas those of the Mouse are broad and chisel-shape like the teeth of the Rabbit.

A peculiar scent is diffused from these animals, which is possibly the reason why the Cat will not eat them, although she will readily destroy them.

Many species of Shrews are known, inhabiting various countries. There are, besides the common species, the Oared and the Water Shrew, all three inhabiting England. The formation of their hair as seen under a powerful microscope, is very beautiful, but quite distinct from the hair of the Mouse or Rat. In the autumn, numbers of these little animals may be seen lying dead, but what causes this destruction is not known.

This is one of the numerous animals that have suffered by false reports, and have been treated with great cruelty on account of those fables. Rustics formerly believed that the poor little harmless creature paralyzed their cattle by running over them, and that the only way to cure the diseased animal was to place a bough of shrew-ash on the injured part. The shrew-ash was made by boring a hole into an ash-tree, and then plugging up in the hole a living Shrew Mouse. By the same process of reasoning a Shrew cut in half, and placed on a wound supposed to be caused by its bite, was considered a certain remedy.

THE WATER SHREW.

The Water Shrew frequents brooks and clear running ditches, in the banks of which it lives. It swims and dives with great ease, and when under water appears as if it had been speckled over its entire surface with silver, from the bubbles of air which adhere to its fur. It eats the grubs of various aquatic insects, digging them out of the muddy banks with its snout. It is not very common, but I have seen numbers of them inhabiting a brook near Little Hinton in Wiltshire, and often watched their elegant movements and gambols through the water. Its localities may be discovered by searching for its "runs," which are like those of the Common Water Rat, but much smaller.

THE COMMON HEDGEHOG.

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OF URCHINS IN GENERAL.

THESE animals have two front teeth above and below; of which those in the upper jaw are distant, and those of the lower are placed near together. On each side there are canine teeth; in the upper jaw five, and in the lower three. There are also four grinders on each side, both above and below; and the body is covered on the upper parts with spines. The tail and feet are very short; and the snout is somewhat cartilaginous.

Urchins are animals usually of small size. There are seven known species. Of these, one is a native of South America, four are found in the East Indies, one in Siberia, and the other, the Common Hedgehog, is a native of Europe. They feed, for the most part, on roots, worms, and insects, which they dig out of the ground by their muzzle or snout. None of the species are carnivorous.

THE COMMON HEDGEHOG.

The usual residence of these animals, which are natives of most of the temperate parts both of Europe and Asia, is in the hedge-rows or thickets. During the day-time they lie concealed in their holes, and at night wander about in search of food, which consists chiefly of fallen fruit, roots, and insects. Naturalists have alleged that they enter gardens; where they mount trees, and descend with pears, apples, or plums, stuck upon their spines. This, however, is a mistake; for, when kept in a garden, they never

THE COMMON HEDGEHOG.

attempt to climb trees; nor even to stick fallen fruit upon their spines. They also are undeservedly reproached with sucking cattle and injuring their udders; for the smallness of their mouths renders this altogether impossible.

The habits of these animals are, in many respects, interesting. In the month of June, 1782, says a correspondent in the Gentleman's Magazine, a full-grown Hedgehog was put into a small yard, in which was a border of shrubs and annuals. In the course of a few days he formed, beneath a small holly-tree, a hole in the earth, sufficiently large to receive his body. After a while a small shed was built for him, in the corner of the yard, and filled with straw; but the animal would not quit his former habitation until it was covered with a stoue. He then took possession of the shed, and, every morning, carried

leaves from a distant part of the border to stop its mouth. His principal food was raw meat and mice. Of the latter he would eat six at a time, but never more; and, although these were thrown to him dead, he bit them all on the neck, before he began to eat any. He would also eat snails with their shells; but would leave any thing for milk, which he lapped exceedingly slow. To this, even if set six or eight yards distant from his shed, he would almost always come out half an hour before his usual time. If the person who usually fed him, neglected to do so he would follow him along the yard; and, if the door was open, he would even go into the house. If meat was put near the mouth of his shed, in the day-time, he would sometimes pull it in and eat it. As the weather became colder, he carried more leaves into his shed; and sometimes he would not come out for two or three days successively. About the end of November he died; from want of food, as was supposed, but, most probably, from the severity of the weather.

Mr. White observed, that the manner in which the Hedgehogs ate the roots of the plantain in his grass walks was very curious. With their upper jaw, which is much longer than the lower, they bored under the plant; and gnawed the root off upwards, leaving the tuft of leaves untouched. In this respect they were serviceable, as they thus destroyed a troublesome weed; but they in some measure defaced the walks, by digging in them small round holes.

The Hedgehog has a very uncommon mode of defending itself from the attacks of other animals. Being possessed of little strength or agility, he neither attempts to fly from, nor to assail his enemies; but ereats his spines, and rolls himself up like a ball, exposing no part of his body that is not covered with these sharp weapons. He will not unfold himself unless thrown into water: and the more he is frightened or harassed, the closer he shuts himself up. While in this state, most dogs, instead of biting him, stand off and bark, not daring to seize him; and, if they attempt it once, their mouths are so pricked with his spines, that it is with difficulty they can be prevailed upon to do it a second time. He is easily taken; for he neither attempts to escape, nor to defend himself by any other means than

this.

This animal, which may, in some degree, be rendered domestic, has been frequently introduced into houses, for the purpose of destroying those troublesome insects, the cock-roaches and beetles, which it pursues and devours with great avidity.

A gentleman, whose kitchen in London was infested with blackbeetles, was recommended to put a Hedgehog in it. He, consequently, had one brought there which had been caught in his garden in the country. At first it was, he says, very sulky, and continued folded up; but, after a while, hunger compelled it to open itself, in search of food; and it ate very heartily of apples and bread soaked in milk: it also sucked with great eagerness, the milk out of its platter. In a little time it became so far domesticated as not to fear either cats or dogs and even to take its food out of the hand of any one who offered it. This animal was usually kept in an upright basket, and,

THE COMMON HEDGEHOG.

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when the family were going to bed, it was customary to bring out the basket and put it into the kitchen. The Hedgehog then crawled up the side; and having by that means, tipped it down, he crawled out, and began sharply to look around for his soaked bread and pan of milk. Having tasted this with great apparent delight, he used, immediately, to run under a closet-door in the kitchen, which he chose as a place of retreat. Finding all safe, he returned and retreated many times, until he had finished his supper. He was, in like manner, supplied in the day-time, and, in similar manner, would throw down his basket and wander about for food. If, at night, there was much talking; if the candles were put too near, or if he perceived himself to be closely observed, he ran to his lurking-place, until the lights were removed and the room became quiet. This Hedgehog continued, for a long time in perfect health; and he grew so fat that, after a little while, it was with difficulty he could squeeze himself under the closetdoor. By his good services he well merited his board and lodging, for scarcely one beetle was left in the house; and it is supposed that he also destroyed the mice.

In the year 1799, there was a Hedgehog in the possession of a Mr. Sample of the Angel Inn at Felton, in Northumberland, which performed the duty of a turn-spit, as well, in every respect, as the dog of that denomination. It ran about the house as familiarly as any other domestic quadruped, and displayed an obedience till then unknown in this species of animals..

At the commencement of winter the Hedgehog wraps itself up in a warm nest of moss, dried grass, and leaves; and sleeps out the rigors of that season. It is frequently found so completely encircled with herbage, that it resembles a ball of dried leaves; but when taken out, and placed before a fire, it soon recovers, from its torpidity. The female produces four or five young-ones at a birth; which are soon covered with prickles, like those of the parent animal. The nest formed for the young ones is large, and is composed principally

of moss.

The Hedgehog is occasionally an article of food, and is said to be very delicate eating. The skin was used by the ancients for the purpose of a clothes-brush.

CLIRES.

IN this order the animals are furnished with two remarkably large and long front teeth in each jaw: but have no canine teeth. Their feet have claws, and are formed both for bounding and running.

OF THE PORCUPINES IN GENERAL.

The Porcupines have two front teeth, cut obliquely, in each jaw; and eight grinders. They have four toes on the fore, and five on the hinder feet; and the body is covered with spines intermixed with hair.

To superficial observers, the animals belonging to this tribe would seem entitled to a place with the Hedgehogs; but they have no further similitude to these, than in the spiny covering of their bodies. None of the species are supposed to be carniverous.

THE COMMON PORCUPINE,

The general length of the Porcupine is about two feet from the head

to the extremity of the tail. The upper parts of the body are covered with strong spines, each of which is variegated with black and white rings. The head, belly, and legs are covered with strong dusky bristles, intermixed with softer hairs: on the top of the head, these are very long, and curved backward, somewhat like crest.

The strong and sharp spines with

which the upper parts of the body of the Porcupine are covered, and which measure from nine to fifteen inches in length, are complete quills, and want only the vane to constitute real feathers. The animal has the power of elevating or depressing them at will; and when he walks they make a rattling noise by striking against each other.

Whenever these animals are irritated or offended, they stamp forcibly