ITS NOCTURNAL HABITS 45 



long and strong. Under the tail is situated a 

 glandular pouch in which is secreted a strongly- 

 smelling substance. Opinion seems to be 

 divided as to the use of this secretion, some 

 holding that the animal derives nourishment from 

 it during its winter retirement a view which 

 one is somewhat surprised to find favoured by 

 Mr. Pease it seems too much akin to the old 

 belief that the bear subsisted by sucking its 

 paws in winter, to obtain ready credence. Von 

 Tschudi, 1 speaking of this belief, remarks simply 

 that it is false. 



Of strictly nocturnal habits, the badger spends 

 the day below ground in his earth, in the for- 

 mation of which he shows perhaps more intelli- 

 gence than in other directions. The tunnel is 

 long and deep, and frequently branching, each 

 terminating in an enlarged living chamber, and 

 each earth having several exits or bolt-holes. 

 The living-chamber is warmly furnished with 

 dry grass, moss, leaves and bracken, replaced 

 yearly by fresh material. Mr. Pease gives an 

 interesting account of the method by which the 

 badger carries in his bedding, retiring back- 

 wards into the earth with the heap of material 

 gathered into a bundle between his fore-paws 

 and his head. The badger is often spoken of 



1 Thierleben^ 1854. 



