Gregory the Dialogist

Hence it is rightly said through the prophet, under the similitude of Judah, to the soul that sins and excuses itself, "There the urchin had her nest." For by the name of urchin is denoted the duplicity of a mind that is insincere, and cunningly defends itself; because, to wit, when an urchin is caught, its head is perceived, and its feet appear, and its whole body is exposed to view; but no sooner has it been caught than it gathers itself into a ball, draws in its feet, hides its head, and all is lost together within the hands of …

The Book of Pastoral Rule, Part 3 ↗