Badgers 73 



other vermin. The badger makes a large 

 burrow or earth, at the end of which there 

 is a considerable space bedded with grass, 

 hay, and leaves. The female, about March 

 or April, produces three or four young, and 

 when these are about eight weeks old they 

 are delightful little creatures, and can be 

 easily tamed. Though quiet, retiring, and 

 inoffensive in its habits, it defends itself 

 skilfully, and with great courage, biting 

 savagely, and retaining its grip with 

 tenacity, the muscles of the jaw being 

 immensely powerful, and its strength very 

 great. On account of its vigorous fight- 

 ing powers, it was used in former times 

 for what was termed " badger-baiting," a 

 hideously cruel proceeding, which happily 

 is not now either permissible by law or 

 countenanced by public opinion. 



Where badgers are supposed to do mischief, 

 or when a specimen is required for scientific 



