^rODE OF TAKIXG THE BADGER. 291 



which they contain. It eats also the fallen beech-nuts 

 and the roots of various plants. The badger possesses 

 great strength, which, together with the toughness and 

 looseness of its skin, enables it to offer considerable 

 resistance when attacked. It defends itself with much 

 agility, biting its assailant very severely, and frequently 

 holding him fast between its teeth. It is killed with 

 difficidty, except by a blow on the snout, a part 

 where most animals are very sensible to injury. Hunt- 

 ing the badger is only performed by moonlight. In 

 this sport the hunters are obliged to oppose art to 

 cunning, and obtain by stratagem what they cannot effect 

 by strength. At a late hour in the evening, when the 

 badger is supposed to have left his kennel in search of 

 food, some of the party proceed to place a sack at length 

 within the burrow, so constructed that the mouth of the 

 sack directly corresponds with the mouth of the earth, 

 and is secured in that position by a willow hoop. This 

 part of the business being completed, the parties with- 

 drawn, and the signal whistle given, their distant com- 

 panions lay on the dogs, either hounds, terriers, or 

 lurchers, encouraging them through the neighbouring 

 woods, coppices, and hedge-rows, which the badgers 

 abroad no sooner find than, being alarmed, and well 

 knoAving their inability to continue a warfare so much 

 out of their element, instantly make to the earth for 

 shelter, where, oppressed with fear, they rush into certain 

 destruction by entering the sack, being entangled in 

 which they are soon secured by those who are fixed near 

 the spot for that purpose. If the badger escape by the 

 ill-construction or accidental falling of the sack, and 

 safely enter the earth, digging him out is not only a 

 very laborious but very precarious attempt, for the 



