. The popular natural history . Zoology. THE HEDGEHOG. 105 SPINE OF HEDGEHOG. Hedgehog chooses to relax the pecuUar muscle which governs the spines, and which serves to retain the creature in its coiled attitude. The point of the quill or spine is directed towards the tail. It will be seen that the quill is not unlike a large pin, being sharply pointed at one ex- tremity, furnished at the other with a round bead-like head, and rather abruptly bent near the head. If the skin be removed from the Hedgehog, the quills are seen to be pinned as it were, through the skin, being retained by their roun
. The popular natural history . Zoology. THE HEDGEHOG. 105 SPINE OF HEDGEHOG. Hedgehog chooses to relax the pecuUar muscle which governs the spines, and which serves to retain the creature in its coiled attitude. The point of the quill or spine is directed towards the tail. It will be seen that the quill is not unlike a large pin, being sharply pointed at one ex- tremity, furnished at the other with a round bead-like head, and rather abruptly bent near the head. If the skin be removed from the Hedgehog, the quills are seen to be pinned as it were, through the skin, being retained by their round heads, which are acted upon by the peculiar muscle which has already been mentioned. It is evident, therefore, that whenever the head of the quill is drawn back- ward by the contraction of the muscle, the point of the quill is erected in pro- portion to the force which is exerted upon the head, so that when the animal is rolled up, and the greatest tension is employed, the quills stand boldly out from the body, and present the bayonet-like array of points in every direction. These curiously-formed spines are useful to the Hedgehog for other pur-. HEDGEHOG.—{Erinacms Europaus.) poses than the very obvious one of protecting the creature from the attacks of its foe. They are extremely elasric, as is found to be the case with hairs and quills of all descriptions, and the natural elasticity is increasid by the sharp curve into which they are bent at their insertion into the skin. Pro- tected by this defence, the Hedgehog is enabled to throw itself from consider- able heights, to curl itself into a ball as it descends, and to reach*the ground without suffering any harm from its fall. A Hedgehog has been seen repeatedly to throw itself from a wall, some twelve or fourteen feet in height, and to fall upon (he hard ground without appearing even to be inconx enienced by its tumble. On reaching the ground it would unroll itself and trot off with perfect unconcern. Marching securely un
Size: 1777px × 1407px
Photo credit: © The Book Worm / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjectzoology, bookyear1884
