WILD LIFE IN A SOUTHERN COUNTY. 249 



old excavations ; where the sand shows, there tlje 

 miners have been recently at work. At the sound of 

 approaching footsteps those inhabitants that had 

 been abroad hastily rushed into their caves, but now 

 (after waiting awhile, and forgetting that the adja- 

 cent hollow might hide the enemy) a dozen or more 

 have come forth within easy gunshot. Though a few 

 like this are always looking in and out all through 

 the day, it is not till the approach of evening that 

 they come out in any number. 



This is a favourite spot from whence to get a shot 

 at them, but the aim must be deadly, or the rabbit 

 will escape though never so severely wounded. The 

 holes are so numerous that he has never more than 

 a yard to scramble, and as he goes down into the 

 earth his own weight carries him on. If he can but live 

 ten seconds after the lead strikes him, he will gener- 

 ally escape you. Watching patiently (without firing), 

 after the twilight has deepened into night, presently 

 you are aware of a longer, larger creature than a rabbit 

 stealing out, seeming to travel close to the earth : it 

 is a badger. There are almost always a couple some- 

 where about the warren. Their residence is easily 

 discovered because of the huge heap of sand thrown 

 out from the rabbit-hole they have chosen ; and it 

 is this ease of discovery that has caused the diminu- 

 tion of their numbers by shot or spade. 



The ground sounds hollow underneath the foot 

 perhaps half an acre is literally bored away under 

 the surface ; and you have to thread your way in 



