THE ELDER 



68i 



ably larger than his hind feet), we may 

 pass to a sliort consideration of the extra- 

 ordinary glands situated beneath the 

 root of his tail. 1 may say at once that 

 the proverb "to stink like a Badger" is, 

 like most proverbs derogatory to animals, 

 a gross perversion of fact. A Badger 

 kept under reasonably fair conditions 

 is as clean and sweet an animal as exists. 

 It is probable that the proverb had its 

 origin in the bestial custom of Badger- 

 baiting, which implied keeping the animal 

 in a barrel or in similarly confined quarters 

 until there was a sufficient entry of dogs 

 to pay the publican. The functions of a 

 Badger's subcaudal glands have been ably 

 investigated by Professor Herbst of 

 Gottingen, and I entirely agree with his 

 conclusions that whatever their use may 



be in the mature Badger, the immature 

 Badger regards their secretion as a condi- 

 ment and possibly as a nutriment. The 

 continual attention which baby Badgers 

 pay to this portion of their anatomy 

 cannot fail to strike anyone who is fortu- 

 nate enough to have experience of baby 

 Badgers, and though mature Badgers 

 are inchned to seek similar consolation by 

 sucking their thumbs for hours together, 

 they are by no means averse to directing 

 their muzzles elsewhere. It must not 

 be forgotten, however, that portions of 

 the body which continually exude viscous 

 matter are continually in need of cleaning, 

 and that the application of a mature 

 Badger's tongue to his subcaudal glands 

 may be analogous to the a]>plication of 

 the handkerchief to the human nose. 



Douglas English. 



HOW TO KNOW THE TREES 

 GROWING IN BRITAIN 



With Notes, descriptive and photographic, for their Identification 

 iu all Seasons of the Year 



By HENRY IRVING 



THE ELDER, THE HOLLY, THE LABURNUM 

 AND THE ACACIA 



THE ELDER 



THOUGH generally seen growing as 

 a somewhat straggling bush, the 

 Elder not infrequently becomes a 

 small standard tree. It is common in 

 aU the countryside, but it seems to have 

 a special preference for the neighbour- 

 hood of human habitations. This may 

 be due to the regard in which it has 

 been held as the possessor of certain 

 medicinal and other virtues. It may be 

 due to use and custom, but it always 

 seems to strike a homely note in our 

 landscape, and, whether seen in full 

 flower or in berry, it wins a kindly 

 notice. 



Its habit of branching is very distinct- 



ive. As a rule several stems rise from 

 the base, and these bend over, drooping at 

 the tips. Along these, especially at the 

 supreme curve, rise other upright stems, 

 which likewise bend over. Manj' similar 

 shoots also rise upright from lower down 

 on the main stems, at short distances 

 apart, like whipstocks. The branching, 

 besides being irregular and straggling, 

 has the ai)})earance of cross-hatching, 

 and is in parts overcrowded. 



The bark, with age, becomes rough and 

 dee|)ly f^lrrowed ; its colour is a yellowish 

 brown. The twigs are a pale greenish 

 grey marked with distinct patches of 

 yellowish brown, indicating the presence 

 of numerous breathing apertures. Twigs 



