l4 '^HE MAMMALIA OF DORSEfSUiRE. 



and mice than his dogs. The badger, like the bear, treads upon 

 its whole heel, and in its walk closely resembles that animal. 

 They caress each other in the same grotesque manner when they 

 are at play. They are most cleanly in their habits, and search 

 for parasites after the manner of monkeys. They are generally 

 heavy and sleepy in the day time, but run about a good bit at 

 night. The chief amusements of mine at night were to turn 

 over and rattle about their drink trough. They are commonly 

 supposed to pass the winter in profound sleep, but such is 

 certainly not their habit in our county. A curious belief is 

 prevalent amongst the rustics that the badger hath the legs of 

 one side shorter than the other, to enable it to run round the 

 side of a hill, but it is certainly far remote from the truth. 

 Badgers and foxes not only live on good terms with each other, 

 but frequently occupy the same burrows. When pursued by 

 hounds, instead of running like foxes, they set their backs to 

 trees and show fight. A cruel sport in former years was baiting 

 them with dogs. Broch is an ancient name for the badger, and 

 survives in the names of a few places as Brockhampton, near 

 Dorchester, Brockenhurst, in the New Forest, &:c. 



Genus LUTRA. 



Otter, Lutra vulgaris. 



Frequents streams, and is very destructive to fish. I have a 

 stuffed one caught at Glanvilles Wootton in 1863. A favourite 

 meet of the otter hounds which come from Winchester is 

 Bagber Bridge. The western part of Dorset is hunted by a 

 Devonshire pack. When otters are taken young, they can be 

 easily tamed and taught to catch fish for their masters. The 

 fishermen in India make use of otters in fishing for driving the 

 shoals into their nets. 



Genus MU STELA. 



Weasel, UTtislcIa ''idgan's. 

 Still common in the county. 



