You may remember some time ago that I recounted my strange dream of a family of hedgehogs sitting in a tree. Well yesterday I discovered that this may not have been quite such a peculiar dream after all. According to the Medieval Bestiary, which I have been reading online, the hedgehog was supposed to have been able to climb vines to gather fruit. According to this fascinating collection of writings, the little creatures were able to knock down grapes and would then roll over and collect the fruit on their quills to take back to their young. They were also supposed to be able to detect from which direction the wind was blowing and if a north wind did blow, they would close up the north hole of their lair.
Interesting little creatures and apparently when cooked they were pretty good for medicine too.
Jon just muttered ”Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.” (Song of Solomon 2:15) and wandered off to the office.
Corinna Downes spent much of her life as a headmaster's secretary and full time mother, bringing up her two daughters. Then she met the director of the Centre for Fortean Zoology, and her world was never the same again.
2 comments:
"Interesting little creatures and apparently when cooked they were pretty good for medicine too."
Don't know about using them for medicine, but a fuzzpig (hedgehog) baked in clay is a real tasty delight.
Hmmm - and they actually supply the convenient toothpick or two for after the feast.
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