The Wild Fishing Forum

Open Forums => Open Boards Viewable By Guests => Reference => Topic started by: Traditionalist on October 25, 2011, 11:13:27 PM

Title: Hedgehog
Post by: Traditionalist on October 25, 2011, 11:13:27 PM
( Erinaceus europaeus )   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hedgehog (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hedgehog)

Many thousands of these animals are now killed annually on the roads, in the UK and Europe, so the belly fur is easily obtainable. Unfortunately they are often squashed flat, as there main defence against approaching danger, especially car headlights, is to roll themselves into a ball, and rely on their spines for protection. They can run very fast if they want to, but rarely do. The animals often have large numbers of fleas, ticks, and other pests, so care should be taken when collecting such material.

Although this was also used by a number of dressers,and was often quoted as a "necessary" dubbing material in many older books,  it is only specifically named in very few privately published soft hackle or other patterns that I know of. I do have a few very old patterns which use it.