32 WOODLAND CREATURES 



We could only make out the dark shapes of some 

 cattle, and the indistinct black mass of the trees. 

 The cry was still repeated, it came nearer and 

 nearer, until the creatures (there seemed to be 

 more than one) could be heard moving over the 

 grass. Then they made off again, after which 

 the melancholy noise came from the original 

 spot beside the wood, where it subsided into 

 a series of gasping grunts. We then realized 

 that we had been privileged to hear the love- 

 making of a pair of badgers. We stayed and 

 listened, we heard them go snorting and grunting 

 through the wood, but at last all sound died 

 away, and it became evident that they had gone 

 off for their night's hunting. 



It is often said that badgers are solitary 

 morose animals, but this is by no means accurate. 

 Not only is it usual for several to live in the same 

 sett, but they will tolerate the presence of other 

 creatures. I have found traces of rabbits going 

 in and out of the great earth, where they evidently 

 use small side holes off the big badger tunnels. 

 Besides which cases have been recorded of a badger 

 and a vixen rearing their respective families in 

 one earth, but no doubt the latter took good 

 care to keep her litter out of the way of the old 

 sow. It is a common thing for a hunted fox 

 to take refuge in a badger sett, which generally 

 affords it a safe retreat. For this reason, and 

 others, badgers are not popular with Masters of 

 Hounds. They say they take possession of fox- 

 earths and turn out the owners, that they open 



