1006 Life-histories of Northern Animals 



that a bull-dog may be holding it by the scruff of the neck 

 without in the least shutting off the Badger's wind or preventing 

 its operating with teeth and energy on any or all four quarters of 

 its preoccupied assailant. Its jaws are so strong that it usually 

 leaves a gash at each bite, and its courage such that it never 

 surrenders, no matter how numerous or strong its assailants; 

 it dies fighting to the last. A fifteen-pounder would be a large 

 one, and any dog twice the weight would surely be worsted by 

 the Badger. 



In my journal for 1892 I find this note: July 27. This 

 morning at Carberry a Badger was pitted against four large 

 dogs on the open prairie, and he beat them all off, escaping 

 almost unhurt. The Badger was aggressive as soon as a dog 

 came near him. He continually uttered a sort of hissing, 

 also grunted like a pig. As a matter of fact, it was a blood- 

 less battle consisting of little but noise. The dogs seemed 

 afraid to close in. When taken back to the stable the Badger 

 drank a large quantity of water. Where does he get it when 

 home ? 



WINTER As late as November 4, 1884, I found a Badger active 



above ground. The fresh snow was plentifully marked with 

 its tracks, showing where it had gone about sniffing at all man- 

 ner of Ground-squirrels' holes, seeking those that gave token 

 of inmates sleeping below. In New Mexico, this animal is 

 active all the year round; but in Manitoba, as soon as the 

 ground freezes, it goes below and sleeps through the winter 

 without any store of food other than its fat, until, in April, it is 

 again aroused to life. 



FOOD The species is carnivorous, strictly so, as much so as any 



animal is ever strictly anything. The bulk of its food is, no 

 doubt. Mice and Ground-squirrels. I have often seen places 

 where a Badger had ripped open the long surface burrow of 

 the Striped Ground-squirrel or had sunk twenty or thirty 

 prospect holes at intervals to strike the deeper burrow, and I 

 have no doubt that its labours were rewarded with a meal. 



