172 



CAPTUBE OP BADGEnS AT POY. 



In the hppfinniiiK of Fohrnary, lS8t, ^h: O. Stock, of Carthagre, succeeded 

 in capturing alive a pair of very fine Badgers on the Underbill Farm, in the 

 parish of Foy, near Ross. His attention was attracted by the large size of a 

 burrow in one of the fields frequented by rabbits, and on looking at the hole 

 closely he saw some dry grass, roots of trees, and other litter about the entrance. 

 Knowing that badgers were abovit he at once concluded that he had found their 

 home, and was quickly convinced that they were there by his fox-terrier. He 

 sent for spades and a sack, and with the assistance of a man from the farm, he 

 set to work to dig up the burrow, directed by the constant barking and efforts 

 of the dog. After much labour, an exclamation, " Here he is ; now for the bag ! " 

 was made, and the badger was induced with some little management, to enter it. 

 The dog soon told them, to their surprise, that there was a second badger there. 

 They had much more difficulty with this one, which was larger and more obsti- 

 nate, but they succeeded, and both were turned loose into a paved stable. The 

 entrance to this burrow measured eighteen inches in diameter ; its greatest depth 

 was six feet, and it gradually sloped upwards for a distance of eight yards until 

 within two feet of the surface. The largest badjjer, when in the bag, was found 

 to weigh 34 lbs. The badgers attracted much attention during the fortnight they 

 occupied the stables. They were fed with lamb and potatoes (a very restricted 

 diet for such an omnivorous animal) and had many visitors. The male was very 

 shy and rude, refusing to exhibit himself, but the female was more amiable, and 

 seemed as if she might easily be tamed. They were fine handsome animals, with 

 the white markings on their heads clear and distinct. They were sent alive to a 

 gentleman in Oxford. It is said that there are still many badgers in the Carey 

 and Brockhampton woods, on the other side of the river Wye. Two Badgers 

 have also been taken alive in the woods of Stoke Edith this spring. 



The badgers of the Bach Camp could not be expected to exhibit themselves. 

 The attention of the visitors was next called to a curious bronze circular bell, with 

 a loose bullet inside to produce the vibration. This bell had been found a short 

 time since at Stockton Court, and had been kindly brought for exhibition by Mr. 

 Burgiss. It seemed to be an ox bell of a very uncommon and interesting form. 

 There was also a basket of coarse Roman pottery, which was obtained from a 

 neighbouring hill, and which from its character was probably manufactured on 

 the spot. 



It was time now to proceed, and under Mr. Hutchinson's guidance, the way 

 was taken across the fields for the Upper Bach farm. Here was an example of an 

 old Herefordshire square pigeon house, with four gables. It formed a cattle shed 

 beneath, a hay loft in the middle, and a pigeon room above. A scramble through 

 a thorny copse, and another short walk, brought the naturalists to Grantsfield. 

 During the walk Mijosotis versicolm; TrifoUum flliforme, and Polyuonatum multi- 

 florum were gathered. 



At Grantsfield the members met with a most kind and genial reception, and 

 a whole day could well have been spent in examining the very fine collection of 

 Lepidoptera and birds' eggs, both English and foreign. It had been intended to 



