392 THE BADGER. 



burrows in the ground very quickly, its legs being 

 short and strong, and its claws stiff and horny. 

 As it continues to bury itself, it throws the earth 

 behind it to a great distance, and thus forms to 

 itself a winding hole, at the bottom of which it 

 remains in safety. As the fox is not so expert at 

 digging into the earth, it often takes possession 

 of that which has been quitted by the badger, 

 and some say, forces it from its retreat, by lay- 

 ing its excrements at the mouth of the badger's 

 hole. 



This animal, however, is not long in making 

 itself a new habitation, from which it seldom ven- 

 tures far, as it flies but slowly, and can find safety 

 only. in the strength of its retreat. When it is 

 surprised by the dogs at some distance from its 

 hole, it then combats with desperate resolution ; 

 it falls upon its back, defends itself on every side, 

 and seldom dies unrevenged in the midst of its 

 enemies. 



The badger, like the fox, is a carnivorous ani- 

 mal, and nothing that has life can come amiss to 

 it. It sleeps the greatest part of its time, and 

 thus, without being a voracious feeder, it still 

 keeps fat, particularly in winter. They always 

 keep their hole very clean ; and when the female 

 brings forth, she makes a comfortable warm bed 

 of hay at the bottom of her hole, for the recep- 

 tion of her young. She brings forth in summer, 

 generally to the number of three or four, which 

 she feeds at first with her milk, and afterwards 

 with such petty prey as she can surprise. She 

 seizes the young rabbits in their warren, robs 



