HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA. 



281 



fruits, and the roots of plants. They move about in 

 all directions on the surface of the earth, searching 

 the most minute and unfrequented holes and corners 

 in quest of these ; and they also climb trees with great 

 dexterity, for the purpose, no doubt, of robbing and 

 plundering the nests of birds. They are particularly 

 fond of drinking water, -which they do by sucking it 

 up into the mouth, and there is no necessary of life 

 on which they seem to set greater value, or to relish 

 more. They are said to frequent the banks of rivers 

 and the sea-shore, for the purpose of catching mol- 

 lusca and fishes, which are their most favourite food. 

 They are very delicate in the sense of smelling, but 

 their organs of hearing are very imperfect. Their 

 appearance resembles the bears more than any other 

 of the carnassiers. Their generally fat condition of 

 body, together with the thickness of fur with which 

 they are clothed, gives them a clumsy rotundity of 

 form. They have an extremely tufted tail, but it 

 does not appear to be employed for any particular 

 purpose in the economy of the animal. They are by 

 no means difficult to tame — soon become familiar — 

 and seem to court caresses ; but they do not seem to 

 possess the quality of attachment to their master, or 

 the docility to obey his commands. In order to pre- 

 vent them from escaping, it is necessary to keep them 

 chained up ; for, though captivity softens their nature 

 to a considerable extent, they never seem to yield up 

 that spirit of independence which they possess in the 



wild state. 



The American Badger {Meles Salvadoiroe) is found 



in the northern part of California. It burrows in the 



sand and is particularly strong in the fore-feet. It is 



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