CULTURE OF FUR-BEARERS 267 



ually occupy deserted burrows of the badger, re- 

 modeled, if need be, to suit their convenience. 



"But it must not be supposed that all the in- 

 numerable badger-diggings are the residences of these 

 animals. The badger, too slow of foot to capture 

 the nimble rodents which form its principal food, 

 perpetually seeks them in their own retreats; and it 

 is the work of a few minutes for this vigorous miner 

 to so far enlarge their burrows that it can enter 

 and reach the deepest recesses. In places where the 

 badgers and spermophiles most abound, the continual 

 excavation of the soil by these animals fairly under- 

 mines and honeycombs the ground." 



Prehistoric plowing. The conditions above 

 described existed mainly in regions of little use 

 for agriculture, and as fast as civilization was 

 extended into the badger country the animals 

 lessened rapidly, for one reason or another, and 

 their holes became filled up. This is illustrated 

 by experience in Manitoba, where, as Seton in- 

 formed us, "the'work of the badger is now con- 

 fined largely to the strips of prairie that exist 

 along the road-allowances, where it can do but 

 little harm." 



As an offset to these troublesome habits 

 (from man's point of view) it must be remem- 

 bered that by the incessant and multitudinous 



