HUNTING 235 



its other denizens. After that space of time, I 

 found that they had become so very numerous 

 that I took steps to diminish their numbers by 

 a little; and when badgers were dug for the 

 training of terriers by those who delight in that 

 most hard-working form of sport, I used to 

 order the old ones to be killed, especially the 

 old boars, who do most of the mischief that can 

 be laid at the door of the badger. 



But when any badger-digging was going on, 

 I always stipulated that it should be super- 

 intended either by myself or by one of the head 

 keepers, who had my orders how to proceed. I 

 always instructed him to take the badger into 

 his own possession, unharmed (for you cannot 

 injure badgers by digging down to them with 

 the aid of little dogs their immensely tough 

 hides protect them far too well for that), and 

 as a rule he was ordered to turn him down 

 quietly in the evening or to bring him to me. 

 I suppose I must have turned out upwards of a 

 score of badgers in the little park in front of 

 the King's House, when it was dark enough for 

 them to get away in safety. They were very 

 soon back again in the earth they came from, 

 however far away it was. 



Some of my friends take much delight in 

 breeding good little terriers suitable for this work, 



