CHAPTER VI. 



THE BADGER, AND HOW HE IS HUNTED. 



" You don't mean to say that dog can draw a 

 badger ? " asks the swell in one of John Leech's inimit- 

 able Punch pictures, the dog in question being a 

 woebegone and attenuated little bull-terrier, little bigger 

 than a rat. 



" Lord love you, sir, it'd be a little holiday 

 to him," is the answer of the ever-ready dealer. 



Although every dog-dealer in London can pro- 

 duce a dog which he will warrant will draw a badger, 

 in my opinion the dog that will do so has never yet 

 been seen. It is true the dealer will often offer to 

 show his customer the dog performing the feat in 

 question. Should the latter assent, an adjournment is 

 made to the rat-pit, which, however, is probably as 

 often used for the illegal amusement of dog- fighting 

 as for its ostensible purpose of ratting. A badger is 

 brought in and placed in a barrel, and the dog, being 

 loosed, after a short worry ejects the " brock." 

 Nevertheless the whole performance is a farce. The 

 badger is half tame, and thoroughly accustomed to the 

 transaction. Being naturally an inoffensive animal, he 



