SAND-BEAR, OR BALISAUR.—<dArclonyx Collaris. 
slightly curved, extremely powerful, and well suited for digging in the ground, as the toes 
are united for their entire leneth. The tail is extremely short. 
In its wild state the Sand-Bear is said to be fierce in disposition, and sufficiently 
powerful to beat off a dog that would not hesitate to attack a wolf or a hyzna. When 
attacked or irritated, the Sand-Bear raises itself on its hind legs, after the manner of the 
bears, and threatens its antagonist with its fore-limbs, in which it seems fully to trust. 
Its food is of a mixed character, but appears to be more of a vegetable than an animal 
nature. It is not a very common animal, and is generally found in the hill country, 
ALTHOUGH one of the most quiet and inoffensive of our indigenous animals, the 
BapGeER has been subjected to such cruel persecutions as could not be justified even if the 
creature were as destructive and noisome as it is harmless or innocuous. For the 
purposes of so-called “sport,” the Badger was captured and kept in a cage ready to be 
tormented at the cruel wili of every ruftian who might choose to risk his dog against the 
sharp teeth of the captive animal. 
Although the Badger is naturally as harmless an animal as can be imagined, it is a 
terrible antagonist when provoked to use the means of defence with which it is so well 
provided. Not only are the teeth long and sharp, but the jaws are so formed, that when 
the animal closes its mouth the jaws “lock” together by a peculiar structure of their 
junction with the skull, and retain their hold without the need of any special effort on the 
part of the animal. The subject is by no means a pleasant one, and will not be further 
noticed. 
Unlike the generality of the weasel tribe, the Badger is slow and clumsy in its actions, 
and rolls along so awkwardly in its gait that it may easily be mistaken for a young pig in 
the dark of the evening, at which time it first issues from its brow. The digging 
capacities of the Badger are very great, the animal being able to sink itself into the 
ground with marvellous rapidity. For this power the Badger is indebted to the long 
curved claws with which the fore-feet are armed, and to the great development of the 
muscles that work the fore-limbs. 
