BADGER. 203 



examines every thing with its paws, and makes use of 

 them as hands to lay hold of every thing that is given 

 it, as well as to carry victuals to its mouth. It sits up 

 to eat, and is extremely fond of sweet things; but still 

 more of strong liquors, with which, when it has an 

 opportunity, it will get completely intoxicated. It 

 has all the'cunning of the fox, is very destructive to 

 poultry, and will eat all sorts of grain, fruits, and; 

 roots. It delights in hunting spiders, devours all 

 kinds of insects, and, when left to range in a garden, 

 will eat grass-hoppers, snails, and worms. It opens 

 oysters with amazing dexterity, and has a peculiar 

 method of dipping in water every thing it intends to 

 eat. Indeed, it will seldom taste bread unless it be 

 well soaked. It is familiar and caressing, and leaps 

 upon those it is fond of, moving with great agility. 



The head of the racoon resembles that of a fox, its 

 body is thick and short, covered with long hair, black 

 at the ends, but grey underneath. Its tail is long and 

 bushy, and marked with alternate rings of black and' 

 white: its skin is the most valuable part of this aiii-- 

 mal, and is reckoned next to the beaver for the ma.- 

 nufacture of hats. 



THIS, BADGER 



is a very inoffensive animal ; and although nature has 

 furnished it with offensive weapons of the most for- 

 midable kind, it never uses them but for the purposes 

 of defence. When attacked, however, it employs all 

 its powers of resistance, and defends itself with the 

 most desperate obstinacy. 



The badger is about two feet and a half long from 

 the head to the insertion of the tail : it is of a dirty 

 grey colour; the legs, which are black, are very 

 thick, strong and short: it has five toes on each foot, 

 those on the fore foot are armed with sharp claws well 

 adapted for digging its subterraneous habitations. It 

 is a very cleanly creature, and never defiles its hole 

 with ordure. Its different parts are converted to va- 

 rious uses. Its flesh, although not delicious, is not an 

 unwholesome, nor even a ver^r unpalatable food ; and 

 the hind quarters,, especially when made into hams, 



