WILD SPORTS OF THE HIGHLANDS 



from a rookery, under which he nightly hunts, feeding on 

 theyoung rooksthat fall from their nests or on the old ones 

 that are shot. This badger eludes every attempt to trap 

 him. Having more than once ran narrowrisks ofthisnature, 

 he has become so cunning that no one can catch him. If a 

 dozen baited traps are set, he manages to carryoff the baits 

 and spring every trap, always with total impunity to him- 

 self. At one time he was watched out to some distance from 

 his drain, and traps were then put in all directions round 

 it, but, by jumping over some and rolling over others, he 

 escaped all. In fact, though a despised and maltreated an- 

 imal, when he has once acquired a certain experience in 

 worldly matters, few beasts show more address and cun- 

 ning in keeping out of scrapes. Though eaten in France, 

 Germany.and other countries,and pronounced to make ex- 

 cellent hams,we in Britain despise him as food,though I see 

 no reason why he should not be quite as good as any pork. 

 The badger becomes immensely fat. Though not a great 

 eater, his quiet habits and his being a great sleeper prevent 

 his being lean. The immense muscular power that he has 

 in his chest and legs enables him to dig With great rapidity, 

 while his powerful jaws (powerful, indeed, beyond any 

 other animal of his size) enable him to tear away any ob- 

 stacle in the shape of roots, etc., that he meets with. He 

 can also stand with perfect impunity a blow on his forehead 

 which would split the frontal bone of an ox. This is owing 

 to its great thickness, and also to the extra protection of a 

 stronof ridee or keel which runs down the middle of his 

 head. A comparatively slight blow on the back of his head 

 kills him. In his natural state he is more than a match for 



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