THE BADGER 



though I have seen a terrier's side torn, 

 and one that turned tail punished severely 

 in the rear. Whilst the terrier for badger 

 should be game to the death, it is all- 

 important that he should mingle discretion 

 with his valour, and not drive his superior 

 foe to desperation, but content himself with 

 keeping him at bay, only using his teeth at 

 a pinch and in extreme cases. Tell me, 

 reader, how many terriers you know who 

 can or will go to ground, stay there, tell 

 the truth always, pass through every place 

 a badger can, keep his head under the 

 most exasperating circumstances, and come 

 up smiling and eager after every round, no 

 matter how much punished ? 



What thousands of little curs there are 

 called terriers, and fox-terriers that will no 

 more go down a fox-earth than go up a 

 chimney ! How many thousands of the best 

 of these, however finely shaped for the show- 

 bench, that have no more idea of their pro- 

 fession and the duties for which nature made 

 them, and from which they derive their name, 

 than the man in the moon, and whose masters 



102 



