not remember to be discernible in the old ones. They can, in part,
at this age draw their skin down over their faces; but are not able to
contract themselves into a ball as they do, for the sake of defence,
when full grown. The reason, I suppose, is, because the curious
muscle that enables the creature to roll itself up into a ball was not
then arrived at its full tone and firmness. Hedge-hogs make a deep
and warm hybernaculum with leaves and moss, in which they
conceal themselves for the winter: but I never could find that they
stored in any winter provision, as some quadrupeds certainly do.

I have discovered an anecdote with respect to the field-fare (turdus
pilaris), which I think is particular enough: this bird, though it sits
on trees in the day-time, and procures the greatest part of its food
from white-thorn hedges; yea, moreover, builds on very high trees;
as may be seen by the Fauna Suecica; yet always appears with us to
roost on the ground. They are seen to come in flocks just before it
is dark, and to settle and nestle among the heath on our forest. And
besides, the larkers, in dragging their nets by night, frequently
catch them in the wheat-stubbles; while the bat-fowlers, who take
many red-wings in the hedges, never entangle any of this species.
Why these birds, in the matter of roosting, should differ from all
their congeners, and from themselves also with respect to their
proceedings by day, is a fact for which I am by no means able to
account.

I have somewhat to inform you of concerning the moose-deer; but
in general foreign animals fall seldom in my way; my little
intelligence is confined to the narrow sphere of my own
observations at home.