THE BADGER'S DEN 



it will often be found to be not only extensive, but somewhat 

 elaborate also, as we shall see presently; while a natural 

 cavity amongst the rocks, of which Reynard occasionally 

 avails himself, may of course be of almost any size or shape. 

 But when he has to do his own digging he contents himself 

 with a home which, though fairly spacious, has but a single 

 chamber, in which the burrow terminates. The Arctic Fox 

 (Canis lagopiLs), on the other hand, excavates a far more 

 complex dwelling, several distinct tunnels opening into a 

 large common chamber and providing the means of escape 

 in various directions in case of danger. The tunnels are 

 said to be occasionally connected by cross passages. The 

 living-room is situated at a considerable depth, and thus 

 affords ample protection from the severity of the climate ; 

 but it is not the only retreat with which the animals provide 

 themselves, for an inner den, which is approached from 

 the first apartment by a single tunnel, serves the purpose 

 of a nursery for the young. Usually a number of foxes 

 make their homes close together, forming a little colony of 

 twenty or thirty families. Their food in summer consists 

 mainly of birds and their eggs members of the auk family 

 being their chief victims. When the birds have migrated, 

 small rodents probably take their place in the Arctic foxes' 

 bill of fare, and Sir G. Nares found that these animals 

 stored up vast numbers of dead lemmings in crannies of the 

 rocks as a provision for their needs during the winter. 



The Badger, or " brock " (Meles taxus\ is one of the most 

 notable of animal excavators. Its favourite haunts are 

 thickly wooded quarries and hillsides, where it digs for itself 

 a large and roomy den. The main tcWhel often branches 

 towards its inner extremity, and frequently the den has 

 several outlets in some cases as many as six or eight. The 

 burrow is very spacious, so that there is ample room not 



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