BADGER. 467 



considered as next in merit for this purpose to 

 that of the Beaver. 



BADGER. 



Ursus Meles. U. cauda concolore, corpore supra cinereo, subtus 



nigro, fascia longitudinali per oculos auresque nigra. Lin. 



Sy st. Nat. p. 70. 

 B. with unmarked tail, body grey above, black below, and a 



longitudinal black band through the eyes and ears. 

 Meles. Gesn. Quadr. 687. 

 Taxus. Aldr. dig. 263. 

 Meles pilis ex sordide albo et nigro variegatis vestita, capite 



taeniis alternatim albis et nigris variegata. Briss Quadr. p. 183, 

 Blaireau. Luff. "j.p. 104. pi. 7. 

 Common Badger. Pennant Quadr. 2. p. 14. 



THE Badger is an inhabitant of all the tempe- 

 rate parts of Europe and Asia. Its usual length 

 is about two feet from the nose to the tail, which 

 measures six inches. It is an animal of very 

 clumsy make, being thick-necked and thick-bodied, 

 with very short legs. It commonly resides in a 

 hole or den underground, out of which it emerges 

 by night in quest of food; feeding chiefly on 

 roots and fruits; but it will also devour frogs, 

 worms, &c. The Badger is of an uniform grey<- 

 colour on the upper parts ; and the throat, breast, 

 belly, and legs, are black : the face is white, and 

 along each side of the head runs a long and 

 somewhat triangular or pyramidal band of black, 

 including the eyes and ears : the eyes are small, 

 and the ears short and rounded : the claws on the 



