[MR] hedgehogs?

[Stefan li Rous]

Baron Arkein said:
<<< Hedgehogs are native to Europe, although there is a long-eared  
variety that lives in southeast Asia. I had a couple as pets when I  
lived in Germany. The main problem is that they are such omnivores  
that they usually have the "trots".....and they are impossible to  
house-train. In medieval times and even later people kept them to eat  
bugs in their houses. When they managed to eat all the bugs in their  
owner's house, the owner would loan them to their neighbors for a bit.  
Hedgehogs will eat plants, bugs, small vermin, etc. They have even  
been observed snagging pheasants taking flight by the leg and dragging  
them down. Hedgehogs are also immune to most poison and venoms,  
natural or man-made. They are about the only animal (except for really  
twisted humans) who will, after killing another hedgehog in a  
territorial dispute, take the hide of their vanquished foe as a  
souvenir for their burrow. I could go on....for I have a plethora of  
trivia concerning my little spiny friends, but I
  will resist the urge. >>>

Ohhh, Thank you. I (obviously) know little about hedgehogs and  
definitely nothing about their uses in medieval Europe.

I would love to hear more about this. Off list would be fine. Or even  
better, write it up into an article that I can add to the ANIMALS  
section in the Florilegium. I'm saving this message, but one message  
doesn't justify a file.

Word is the easiest format for me to handle, copyright remains with  
the author and I will accept updates at any time.

I wonder if there is an SCA group which features a hedgehog in its  
armory?

Stefan

--------
THLord Stefan li Rous    Barony of Bryn Gwlad    Kingdom of Ansteorra
    Mark S. Harris           Austin, Texas          StefanliRous at austin.rr.com
http://www.linkedin.com/in/marksharris
**** See Stefan's Florilegium files at:  http://www.florilegium.org ****