348 EARTH TRESPASSERS. 



myself with mentioning a few which are inhabitants of 

 our country, and which are represented on Plate VI. 



On the upper part of the plate is shown the 

 common Badger, which was once so plentiful in Eng- 

 land, and is now so rare, the progress of agriculture 

 having driven it from so many spots where once it 

 dwelt in safety. 



Next comes the Fox, another of the partial earth 

 trespassers. Like the Badger, the Fox remains in its 

 tunnel, or " earth," as it is popularly called, during 

 the day, and only issues forth at night for the purpose 

 of procuring food. 



Then there are the Eabbits, which, as far as earth 

 trespassing goes, have many of the habits of the 

 badger and the fox, except that their food is of a 

 vegetable and not an animal nature. 



Although they are not so strictly nocturnal as the 

 two preceding animals, they always prefer the very 

 early morning or the evening dusk for issuing from 

 their burrows. I scarcely know a prettier sight than 

 that of the Rabbits somewhere about sunrise on a 

 summer's day. They are not accustomed to be dis- 

 turbed at that time, and, in consequence, play about 

 with a freedom which they scarcely ever assume at any 

 other time of day. 



Lastly, we have the Field Mice, which are by no 

 means nocturnal, like their fellows the house mice, but 

 boldly leave their burrows and search for food in 

 broad day, trusting to the manner in which their hues 

 blend with those of the ground, the resemblance being 

 so perfect that scarcely any eye but that of the kestrel 

 can detect them. 



