It scampers about in aimless circles

TCD MS 10515 folio 82 recto

TCD MS 10515 folio 82 recto

[May 10th 1916]

and it’s long tufted tail, held erect, gives it that balance and steering power by means of which it darts and swerves with such amazing celerity. The specimen our Gurkhas captured was 10¼ inches in length but of this the tail accounted for no less and 6½ inches. When seperated from its burrow the little creature becomes so alarmed and excited that it scampers about in aimless circles and proves an easy capture when surrounded by men.
Hedgehogs (Erinaceus Calligorie) were more conspicuous dead than alive as the desert was, in places, strewn with their dried spiny skeletons. Whenever we obtained a living hedgehog, the Gurkhas used to amuse themselves flooding the animal with water to make it unfold.