CHAP. THIRTY-ONE THE BADGER 



and why do they get caught so often in traps baited with 

 rabbits?" I could not but admit that they had most carnivor- 

 ous-looking teeth, and well adapted to act on the offensive 

 as well as defensive, or to crunch the bones of any young 

 hare, rabbit, or pheasant that came in their way. When 

 caught in traps, they never left part of their foot behind 

 them and so escaped, as foxes and other vermin frequently 

 do; but they display very great strength and dexterity in 

 drawing up the peg of the trap, and this done, they will 

 carry off the heaviest trap to an amazing distance, over 

 rock or heather. They never attempt to enter their hole with 

 a trap dangling to their foot, but generally lay up in some 

 furze-bush or thicket; on these occasions we invariably 

 found them, by tracking them with a dog who generally at- 

 tended the trapper, and which dog was peculiarly skilful in 

 tracking animals ofthis kind. Rover (for that was his name), 

 a strong water-spaniel, was very fond of, and took great in- 

 terest in, trapping; if he accompanied the keeperwhen plac- 

 ing his traps overnight, he would often start alone in the 

 morning to take a survey of them, and either kill any an- 

 imal he found captive,or, if he was not very confident of be- 

 ing the strongestjhe would return impatiently for the man, 

 and, running before him, point out plainly where every 

 head of vermin was caught. As for getting into a trap him- 

 self, he was far too cunning, but always halting a few yards 

 to leeward of them, and sniffing the air, would at once know 

 if anythingwas caught. If a cat, marten-cat, or any smaller 

 animal was there, he at once rushed in and killed it; but 

 he waited for the assistance of his friend the keeper to dis- 

 patch any larger animal. 

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