BADGERS AND THEIR WAYS 



the inhumanity to kill it, and afterwards to burn it, 

 declaring that it could be no other than a witch." 

 Whether this narrative is fable or fact it is hard to say : 

 there seem to be elements of possibility about it, know- 

 ing the curiously dogged nature of the badger and its 

 great capability of affection. 



Badgers in captivity are not often seen ; yet, when 

 taken quite young and reared, they become very 

 interesting pets. I once knew a tame badger which 

 was, in its way, one of the most interesting and 

 amusing beasts I ever met with. It had been brought 

 up from infancy with a tabby kitten, and the two, as 

 they grew older, developed a warm friendship. Their 

 evening gambols were most amusing, the cat with her 

 sprightly and active ways, and the badger with his quaint 

 gait and ludicrous, old-fashioned manners forming the 

 oddest contrast. The badger, however, is a far quicker 

 and livelier beast when it is excited or interested than 

 most people would suppose. One of the greatest treats 

 to this animal was a small pot of earthworms, and a 

 ramble over the lawn on a dewy summer's evening, 

 when the big lob-worms were abroad, was always 

 keenly appreciated. This badger had an extraordinary 

 attachment to its master, who had dug it out of its 

 earth as a baby, brought it home, and looked to its 

 rearing. Him it would allow any liberty. He could 

 take it up, play with it, carry it — in short, do whatever 

 he pleased with it. It came to his call, and '' Bill," as 

 the animal was named, would follow him about the 

 house, into his study, anywhere. Bill knew the 

 rest of the family, and treated them with respect ; but 

 it cared for none of them as it did for its master. Of 

 strangers it took almost no notice. It lived in a kennel, 

 and was extremely nice and cleanly in its habits. 

 Badgers are sometimes troubled with ticks, especially 



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