THE BADGER 



In Scotland the badger is now rare. In 

 the north-eastern counties, where till recently 

 he was to be met with in every wild 

 woodland and forest district, he has entirely 

 vanished. In Ross-shire and in the west 

 he is occasionally found in places where the 

 wild cat and marten are making their last 

 stand against the keeper and his extermin- 

 ating engine, the steel trap. In Ireland 

 the badger is still found in the Wild West. 

 I have come upon him in Connemara, near 

 the Killery harbour, and have heard of him 

 in Kerry and other counties. 



As to the distribution of the badger in 

 Ireland I quote the following interesting 

 letters from the Field : 



" ' Lepus Hibernicus' may be glad to 

 know that the badger is still fairly common in 

 the neighbourhood of Clonmel. The country 

 people, who know them better under the 

 name of 'earth-dogs,' in distinction to 'water- 

 dogs,' or otters, not unfrequently catch them 

 in one way or another, and offer them for 

 sale. Fortunately for the badger the demand 

 is extremely limited." Badger (Clonmel). 

 41 



