ITS FOOD 47 



fruits, beetles and insects of all sorts, reptiles, 

 snakes, young birds, eggs, mice, and the smaller 

 animals generally, all seem welcome. Honey 

 and wasp-grubs have special attractions for them 

 as for their distant relative the bear ; and on 

 the continent of Europe they do at times much 

 damage in the vineyards. In this country 

 there is no doubt but that young rabbits are 

 a favourite delicacy, and it may be accounted 

 to the badger for righteousness that he helps 

 to keep down these ubiquitous pests. 



On the whole he may be regarded as a 

 harmless, if not absolutely a useful animal ; 

 but that an occasional individual may develop 

 abnormal and vicious propensities cannot be 

 denied. A striking instance of such depravity 

 has come to my knowledge. A forester living 

 in a remote cottage in the heart of one of our 

 largest deer-forests had a number of fowls in 

 a rude turf-covered out-house. One night there 

 was a great outcry among the fowls, and in the 

 morning it was found that some animal had 

 forced an entry and carried off one or more of 

 the inmates. The door was made secure, but 

 next night the alarm was renewed. At day- 

 break the forester found that the burglar had 

 this time obtained entrance through the roof, 

 and being unable to return that way, remained a 



