of 



47 



upper tusks across the lower branches of the 

 trees, and, thus suspended, sleep in security. 

 When hunted closely, and in apparent dan- 

 ger, this animal will, if possible, plunge into 

 some great river, or the sea, where it swims 

 with great facility, and by alternate diving 

 and rising, is frequently able to escape from 

 its pursuers. In the gardens of the Zoolo- 

 gical Society a fine specimen of this rare 

 animal may be (or was latety) seen. 



BACULITES. A species of Ammonite or 

 Snake-stone. [See AMMOXITE.] 



BADGER. (Melfs vultjaris.) The Badger 

 is a carnivorous quadruped, inhabiting most 

 parts of Europe and Asia ; and is generally 

 regarded as a solitary, stupid animal, that 

 seeks refuge in the most sequestered places, 



and shuns the light of day. It has very short 

 legs and a broad flat body ; the head is long 

 and pointed, the eyes small, the neck short 

 and thick, the tail remarkably short, and 

 the hide thick and tough. The upper parts 

 of the body are covered with long coarse 

 hair, the hue of which is a rusty grey ; but 

 on the breast, bellv, and limbs it is short and 

 black : the face is white, and along each 

 side of the head runs a long pyramidal band 

 of black, including the eyes and ears. 



With its powerful claws it constructs a 

 deep and commodious burrow ; and as it 

 continues to bury itself, it throws the earth 

 behind it to a great distance, and thus forms 

 for itself a long winding hole, ending in a 

 round apartment at the bottom, wliich is 

 well lined with dry grass and hay. This 

 retreat it seldom quits till night, when it 

 steals from its subterraneous abode for the 

 purpose of procuring food. It lives chiefly 

 on roots, fruits, insects, and frogs ; but it also 

 robs the bee of his honey, and destroys the 

 eggs of partridges and other birds which 

 build their nests on the ground. It is quiet 

 and inoffensive ; but when attacked by dogs 

 it defends itself with great resolution, and 

 seldom dies unrevenged of his enemies. The 

 Badger is about two feet six inches long : his 

 skin is so thick that it resists the impression 

 of the teeth, and so loose, that even when a 

 dog has seized it, he is enabled to turn round 

 easily, and severely bite his assailant. The 

 female produces three or four young at a 

 time. The flesh of the Badger is reckoned 

 a delicacy in Italy, France, and China, and 

 may be made into hams and bacon. The 

 skin, when dressed with the hair on, is im- 

 pervious to the rain, and consequently makes 



excellent covers for travelling trunks, &c. ; 

 and the hairs or bristles are made into 

 brushes for painters. 



The AMERICAN BADGER, or CAR- 

 CAJOU. (3/efes Labradorica.) This animal 

 is rather smaller than the European species ? 

 its fore-claws are longer and stronger, and the 

 black bauds on the face narrower. Its pre- 

 vailing colour is a kind of mottled grey, and, 

 with the exception of the head and extre- 

 mities, which are covered with short coarse 

 hair, it is furnished with a fine, long, silky 

 fur. It is a slow and timid animal, takes 

 to the first earth it meets with when pur- 

 sued, and, burrowing in the sand, is soon 

 out of the reach of danger. Whilst the 

 ground is covered with snow the American 

 Badger seldom ventures from his hole, but 

 passes the severe winter months in a semi- 

 torpid state. By some naturalists this is 

 regarded as. the type of a distinct genus 

 (Taxidea). 



The INDIAN BADGER (Mi/dam col- 

 laris) is about twenty inches in height and 

 two feet in length, the form of its body and 

 limbs bearing a resemblance to the bear, 

 while its head, eyes, and tail remind us of 

 the hog. The hair is a yellowish white, 

 with black points, which gives the whole a 

 dark brown shade ; but the legs and under 

 parts of the body are black. The ears are 

 very small ; and on each side of the head 

 are two black bands, which descend down 

 the neck, and enclose the throat. They are 

 so exceedingly fierce that dogs would quite 

 as readily encounter the hysena or wolf. 



BAL^NA. [See WHALE.] 

 BAI^ENICEPS. [See BOAT-BILL.] 

 BALANCE-FISH. (.Zygoma.) A re- 

 markable fish, the shape of whose monstrous 

 head has been likened to a blacksmith's 

 large hammer. It ia a native of the Medi- 

 terranean Sea. 



BALANINUS. A genus of Coleopterous 

 insects, belonging to the family Curcu- 

 lionidte, furnished with a long slender ros- 

 trum, or snout, at the tip of which is a mi- 

 nute pair of sharp horizontal jaws, and by 

 means of which it is enabled to deposit its 

 eggs, which are generally placed in the ker- 

 nel of some fruit. Of this kind is the ala- 



