THE BADGER 



about 25 Ibs., that of a female about 22 Ibs. 

 When they are fat, or in grease in September, 

 they will scale more. Badgers have been 

 known to weigh up to about 40 Ibs. ; the 

 largest I ever dug out and weighed was 

 an old lean dog badger that scaled over 

 35 Ibs. 



The head of the badger is wedge-shaped 

 in general conformation, the back of the head 

 large, the cheek-bones well sprung, and the 

 muzzle fine and long. The nose or snout 

 is black in colour, long and full ; the eyes 

 small, black, or black-blue ; and the ears 

 small, round, close-set, and neat. The 

 strength of a badger's legs is most remarkable, 

 and for his size (the animal only weighs 

 from 19 Ibs. to 35 Ibs.) he possesses a most 

 wonderful combination of bone and muscle. 

 The legs are very short and the joints large ; 

 the feet, like the legs, are nearly black, and 

 are large and long. The badger is a planti- 

 grade, that is, when travelling he puts down 

 the whole of his foot, including the heel, flat 

 on the ground. His fore-feet are larger, 

 longer, and better equipped for digging than 

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