WOOD-DWELLERS 263 



summer-time the golden fruit falls unheeded to the 

 ground. For Hazelhurst is long distant from town 

 or nearest village. Brambles hold their luscious 

 fruit, and every species of ground berry grows there. 

 No wonder it is a paradise to mice and squirrels and 

 birds. They revel in Nature's ample provision, and 

 are undisturbed. 



Here, in the days of our immediate ancestors, 

 badgers were plentiful. Now, where a ridge of rock 

 runs through the wood, there is a hole, the entrance 

 to a somewhat spacious cavity. This can be seen 

 for the seeking, not otherwise. Brambles and 

 ground-ivy protect it. Black bryony and woodbine 

 twist up every available stem, and a knoll of black- 

 thorn grows over all. The spot is protected and 

 dense. One day I invaded it, but after long crawling 

 and sticking fast had to return. In it live the 

 badgers have done so time out of mind, and the 

 few poachers who know it call it " brock-holes." 

 " Brock " is the old north-country name for the 

 badger, and, as I have said, everything testifies to 

 its presence. In this wild fruit paradise at least two 

 pairs of badgers breed. Each pair has more than 

 one apartment at least the young are not produced 

 in that which forms the general abode. These apart- 

 ments are at the end of the burrows, and contain the 

 beds, composed of roots and dried grass. The 

 young are brought forth in April, and after about 



