Wee hedgepig


Did I mention that it is difficult to paint with a new baby? I finally got a new little critter done, on the pine boards Laurent sawed off of Lucy's old bed...

Oh, lovely Wikipedia, thank you for sharing:
No living species is native to North America. Hedgehogs have changed little over the last 15 million years. Like many of the first mammals they have adapted to a nocturnal, insectivorous way of life. The name 'hedgehog' came into use around the year 1450, derived from the Middle English 'heyghoge', from 'heyg', 'hegge' = hedge, because it frequents hedgerows, and 'hoge', 'hogge' = hog, from its piglike snout. Other folk names include 'urchin', 'hedgepig' and 'furze-pig' .

One of my favorite French nursery rhymes is about a hedgehog (listen here) :
Qui est-ce qui pique, pique, pique
Qui est-ce qui pique quand on le prend ?
C'est mon hérisson mesdames, c'est mon hérisson !
Qu'est-ce qui trotte, trotte, trotte
Dans les allées du jardin ?
C'est mon hérisson mesdames, c'est mon hérisson !
Qui est-ce qui croque, croque, croque
Les insectes et les vers blancs ?
C'est mon hérisson mesdames, c'est mon hérisson !
Qui est-ce qui lape à petits bruits
Le lait que je mets pour lui ?
C'est mon hérisson mesdames, c'est mon hérisson !
Qui est-ce qui s'roule, se met en boule
Sous les feuilles du groseillier ?
C'est mon hérisson mesdames, c'est mon hérisson !
Qui est-ce qui se cache ou bien s'endort
Quand il fait bien froid dehors ?
C'est mon hérisson mesdames, c'est mon hérisson !

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