* VERMIN' 231 



the badger, this is a long-suffering animal which, 

 on account of ignorant prejudice, has been so 

 persecuted that it is now rare in Scotland, 

 although comparatively plentiful in some dis- 

 tricts of England, where its harmlessness is 

 probably better understood. An omnivorous 

 feeder, living on roots, vegetables, fruits, 

 beetles and insects, reptiles and mice, with a 

 special love for honey and wasp-grubs, he is 

 decidedly useful on the whole ; his fondness for 

 an occasional change in the way of a nest of 

 young rabbits being about the sole charge that 

 can fairly be brought against him. 



The case of the otter, the next of our larger 

 animals, is not quite so plain. Where fish are 

 plentiful his diet consists almost entirely of them, 

 and at times he destroys more than he consumes. 

 In his favour it is to be recorded that eels are a 

 special favourite with him, and there is certainly 

 no worse enemy than the eel to salmon and 

 trout in their early stages. When fish are 

 scarce, the otter contents himself with frogs, 

 young rabbits, indeed with anything he can 

 come by. There is on the whole, therefore, not 

 very much to be said in his favour ; but his 

 mode of life and nocturnal habits enable him to 

 take pretty good care of himself; indeed the 

 otter is more plentiful than many people imagine, 



