BRITISH MAMMALS 



inches, the hairy tail only accounting for about seven 

 inches. Although not as long as the Fox, or Wild Cat, 

 the Badger is a heavier animal than either of these, and 

 is the weightiest of the Carnivores we now have resident 

 among us. The male is known as the dog, the female as 

 the bitch. In days gone by, Badger-baiting at fairs and 

 other rural festivals was considered great sport ; but 

 those days have passed, and we are now concerned in an 

 endeavour to promulgate the law of live-and-let-live, 

 though, perchance, converts may be few ! But this 

 Badger-baiting of old goes to show how common this 

 species was, and its alternative name of Brock is still 

 perpetuated in certain districts known to us, where, 

 even to-day, the animal is by no means uncommon. 

 It is said that the name of Brock was conferred because 

 of the striped black and grey face which forms such a 

 prominent part of its appearance. A wooded hillside, 

 where naught but the huntsman's horn or the forester's 

 axe disturbs the peace year in and year out, is a favourite 

 place of abode. In such a position, among the ramifica- 

 tions of the trees, the Badger throws up enormous heaps 

 of earth, and an examination of the entrances during the 

 day will soon provide evidence as to whether Brock had 

 been on the prowl the night previous. The finest series 

 of " earths " we have examined are situate in one of the 

 beautiful wooded hillsides of a sequestered Cornish valley; 

 but, within half an hour's walk of our own home, we can 

 visit a well-frequented Badger's abode over which 



children trample in search of Primroses and Bluebells, 

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