56 ANIMAL LIFE OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



Brockholes, and many more. In the present day, by the 

 majority of people, the Badger would be regarded almost 

 as one of the extinct native fauna, only to be read of in 

 books. But it is very far from being extinct ; and the London 

 naturalist who is determined to see it may have his wish 

 gratified with a journey of no more than five and twenty miles, 

 possibly less. It must be remembered, however, that the 

 Badger is even more nocturnal in his habits than the Fox, 

 retiring at dawn to his " set " deep in the earth, where he sleeps 

 until dusk. This underground hollow may be ten feet or more 

 below the surface, and besides the entrance slope it may have 

 several passages and upper galleries, with probably a back 

 door at some distance from the main entrance. In front of 

 this aperture, and partly hiding it, is a mound of earth that 

 was turned out when the excavation was made, and the size of 

 this mound may be taken as an indication of the depth and 

 extent of the habitation. It is no unusual thing for some of the 

 upper passages communicating with the entrance to be tenanted 

 by Foxes and Rabbits ! The proximity of the Badger's " set " 

 may be ascertained sometimes, when rambling through the 

 woods, by coming across a beech or birch tree whose smooth 

 bark is scored vertically, and an idea of the size of the Badger 

 may be obtained by noting the length of these marks. They are 

 caused by the Badger "up-ending " and stretching his limbs to 

 the full extent whilst he cleans and sharpens his claws, as the 

 domestic cat does hers on a table leg. The scores of the 

 Badger cubs may be found there also. 



The rough-coated Badger measures from two and a half to 

 three feet long, and stands about one foot at the shoulder. At 

 a little distance he appears to be of a uniform grey colour, but 

 more closely he is seen to be reddish-grey above and black 

 beneath. The body is stout and broad, the muzzle pointed; the 

 ears short, and tail 7 to 8 inches long. The soles of the feet 

 are naked, and the claws of the fore feet are larger than those of 



