[11] I can bear witness, that hedgehogs are not always nocturnal animals, having more than once seen them running about in the daytime, and I remember capturing one that was trotting across the corner of a field when the mid-day sun was shining brightly. And if the hedgehog occasionally kills snakes, as Mr. Bell informs us, how can he meet with these animals by night, when they are invariably safe in their holes? [Illustration: THE SQUIRREL AND THE HEDGEHOG. Page 189.] Brush remained on the ground, but his family observed that he took care to keep close to the stem of a small tree, for he thought that if his new acquaintance should become uncivil, he could not possibly climb up after him. After the two animals had looked at each other for some time in silence, Touchmenot began the conversation. * * * * * TOUCHMENOT. Well! what d'ye stare at? What d'ye want? Never saw me before, eh? Hope you will remember me when we meet again, for you have looked at me long enough, I am sure, with those great black eyes of yours. Oh! don't be frightened! You may stare at me till you are blind for all I care. I'm not ashamed of myself. Oh dear no! Well, now you have examined me pretty well, who d'ye think I am, eh? BRUSH, (_Rather frightened at the surly address of the stranger_). I believe you are called Mr. Touchmenot, are you not, Sir? TOUCHMENOT. Touchmenot, indeed! What fool told you that? Well, I don't care, they may call me so if they please. Ha! ha! no bad name neither! _Touch me not_, I advise you, or you will smart for it! So _that's_ the name they give me, is it? Oh, with all my heart! And what else have you heard about me, Mr. Greateyes? BRUSH. Oh, nothing very particular. Yes, now I recollect, I have heard that you have got a very odd way of defending yourself, by rolling up into a ball, when you see any animal coming that you think is an enemy. TOUCHMENOT. That I _think_ is an enemy? I consider _all_ animals my enemies. Except my own family, I don't believe I have a friend in the world. My comfort is, that I am very well able to take care of myself; and yet I can neither fly like a bird, nor run like a hare, nor swim like a fish, nor leap like yourself. No, I can do none of these; but I can _roll up_, and so set all my enemies at defiance; and I had half a mind to have done so when I first saw you, but it was hardly worth while, for you are much smaller than I am, and, besides, to tell you the truth, you look rather like a good-tempered fellow. Now what other tales have you heard about my doings? BRUSH. Why if you wont be angry, I was going to say, though I didn't believe it at the time, but I _have_ heard it said that you are _rather fond of milk_, and don't mind sucking the farmers' cows sometimes. TOUCHMENOT.