THE BADGER 



is to fight on her back, using thereby both 

 her Teeth and her Nails, and by blowing up 

 her Skin after a strange and wonderful 

 manner she defendeth herself against any 

 blow and teeth of Dogs. Only a small stroke 

 on her Nose will dispatch her presently. You 

 may thrash your heart weary on her back, 

 which she values as a matter of nothing." If 

 such a provision in the matter of legs did 

 exist, one can realize the comfort of the 

 uneven legs on a hill-side, but what gravels 

 us is the discomfort of the return journey! 

 The rolling, shambling gait that characterizes 

 the badger is doubtless the origin of this 

 absurd theory, which might be equally 

 applied to any other member of the bear 

 family. The European badger, as we find 

 him in England, Wales, Scotland, and 

 Ireland, stands about ten to twelve inches 

 from the ground, has a long, stout body, with 

 the belly near the earth. He has a coat so 

 long and dense, and legs so short, that he 

 appears to travel very nearly ventre a terre. 

 The male is somewhat larger than the female, 

 and weighs more. The weight of a male is 

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