Mr. J. E. Harting on Forest Animals. 93
even young rabbits, are eaten by turn as opportunity
serves; and on one occasion a hedgehog was surprised
with a young leveret struggling in its jaws.* Two that I
kept in confinement for some time were particularly fond
of frogs.
In this propensity for flesh, the hedgehog resembles the
animals which I have next to notice—viz., the Carnivora—
distinguishable by their immensely powerful teeth (the
canines, or tusks, being largely developed), a loose skin, and
strong legs and feet, armed with hard sharp claws.
Of this order we once had notable representatives in our
forests in the shape of the bear and the wolf, but these,
alas! are no longer to be found here; and the most
powerful survivors of this group of animals are the badger,
the wild cat, and the fox.
The first-named is of special interest as being the sole
surviving representative of the bear-family in this country.
It is a plantigrade animal, walking upon the entire sole of
the foot, like a bear, instead of on the toes only, like a
cat. In its habits also and food it resembles the bear, living
in holes, laying up by day, and coming forth at night;
and feeding on various roots, fungus, earth nuts, beech
mast, blackberries, dung-beetles and grasshoppers, snails
and worms, frogs and mice. Strange to say, the hedgehog
is a favourite morsel, and is easily killed by a badger,
notwithstanding its armour. In confinement the badger
has been known to devour rabbits greedily ; and a partially
devoured mole has been found in a nest of young badgers.†
I have never heard any accusation against the badger for
damaging young trees, nor do I believe that he would do
so, his diet being what I have stated. Nor do I believe that
there is any truth in the allegation that if badgers are
suffered to remain in a fox-covert they will drive the foxes
away. Wild animals, as a rule, live in harmony, especially
where (as in the case of fox and badger) neither preys on
the other.
* Gardener's Chronicle, 1846, p. 480.
† The Field, March 23rd, 1872.