THE REASON WHY : 



" In hollow caverns vermin make abode, 

 The hissing serpent, and the swelling toad, 

 The corn-devouring weasel here abides, 

 And the wise ant her wintry store provides." DHYDJN. 



242. Wliy was badger hunting an amusement of former 

 times ? 



Because the animal is of a very pugnacious disposition, posses- 

 sing great muscular power and astonishing strength of jaws ; its 

 strong leathery hide also provides it with a defensive coat of mail, 

 and from these combined characteristics the animal is rendered a 

 formidable enemy to attack or to cope with. 



2^3. The badger is taken in various ways. The favourite mode, and that which 

 is perhaps the most successful, is by catching him in a sack placed at the entrance 

 of his hole. The haunt of the badger being ascertained, a moonlight night is 

 chosen, when he is out feeding, and a small sack is placed within the mouth of the 

 hole, fastened at the outside, with the mouth of the bag outwards, and having a 

 running string round it. Two or three couples of hounds are then thrown oft 

 at some distance, and as soon as the badger hears their cry, he makes for his home 

 with all speed, and runs into the sack, which closes behind him by the tightening of 

 the running string round it. Another method is by digging him out. This, 

 however, is laborious, and not always successful, particularly in sandy soils, in 

 which the badger will easily foil the dogs which pursue him in his subterranean 

 passage, by throwing the earth back upon them and blocking up their way, whilst 

 he takes advantage of their loss of time and makes his way to the surface. 



244. What gave rise to the old proverb of " Catch a weasel 

 asleep" &e. ? 



When awake weasels are particularly expert in eluding capture. 

 But it is scarcely possible to imagine an animal sleeping more 

 soundly than the weasel does when once it gives itself up to rest. 

 It may be taken up by the head, the heels, or the tail, and swung 

 about for a considerable time before it begins to awake. In fact, 

 although it is a snappish little animal when awake, there is not 

 one with which greater liberties may be taken when once asleep. 



245. \Yhy is the weasel peculiarly adapted for hunting mice in 

 wheat ricks? 



Because it possesses a long flexible body and an extraordinary 

 length of neck ; the closeness of its fur, and its extreme agility 

 and quickness of movement, combine to adapt it to suoh habits, in 

 which it is also much aided by its power of hunting by scenfc. 



246. In pursuing a rat or a mouse the weasel not only follows it as long as i 4 

 fpmains in sight, but continues the chase after it has disappeared, with the hea-'i 



