AND THEIR MANAGEMENT 181 



interior architecture of the earth to suit himself, 

 blocking up certain passages, enlarging chambers, and 

 filling his sleeping-place with a wonderful quantity of 

 hay or grass procured from — who shall say where? 

 In that earth no vixen will bring out her cubs, nor 

 will she move them into it from outside till all traces 

 of the badgers have disappeared. Such at least is my 

 experience, and that of two neighbouring covert- 

 keepers, though I have read that there are different 

 opinions about the matter. 



A few years ago, to judge by letters and 

 articles which were published, one would have 

 imagined that the badger was nearly as extinct in 

 these islands as the dodo ; they may be scarce in 

 some districts : in this part of Ireland they have 

 been vastly on the increase for several years, but, 

 like other night workers, are not believed in because 

 seldom seen. 



It is quite possible if the artificial earth bears no 

 signs of use that it is faulty in construction and is 

 damp. If this be the case, and you cannot devise 

 some system of drainage to rectify the defect, it 

 should be dug up at once as totally useless, and 

 another constructed. An efficient method of draining 

 should be carefully considered, to save expense, for 

 a properly constructed artificial earth is not made 

 for nothing. 



When a new covert has to be laid out, most careful 

 consideration is required as to its situation ; and in 

 these days the most important point is that it shall 

 be absolutely free from trespass. When it is possible 

 to place the covert within the boundaries of some 



