CHAP, xxxi.] SAGACITY OF BADGERS. 241 



out in frost or snow. Sometimes I have known a badger leave 

 the solitude of the woods and take to some drain in the culti- 

 vated country, where he becomes very bold and destructive to 

 the crops, cutting down wheat and ravaging the gardens in a 

 surprising manner. One which I know to be now living in this 

 manner derives great part of his food during the spring from a 

 rookery, under which he nightly hunts, feeding on the young 

 rooks that fall from their nests or on the old ones that are shot. 

 This badger eludes every attempt to trap him. Having more 

 than once ran narrow risks of this nature, he has become so cun- 

 ning that no one can catch him. If a dozen baited traps are 

 set, he manages to carry off the baits and spring every trap, 

 always witli total impunity to himself. At one time he was 

 watched out to some distance from his drain, and traps were then 

 put in all directions round it, but, by jumping over some and 

 rolling over others, he escaped all. In fact, though a despised 

 and maltreated animal, when he has once acquired a certain 

 experience in worldly matters, few beasts show more address and 

 cunning in keeping out of scrapes. Though eaten in France, 

 Germany, and other countries, and pronounced to make excel- 

 lent hams, we in Britain despise him as food, though I see no 

 reason why he should not be quite as good as any pork. 



The badger becomes immensely fat. Though not a great, 

 eater, his quiet habits and his being a great sleeper prevent liis 

 being lean. 



The immense muscular power that he has in his chest and legs 

 enables him to dig with great rapidity, while his powerful jaws 

 (powerful, indeed, beyond any other animal of his size) enable 

 him to tear away any obstacle in the shape of roots. &c. that lit- 

 meets with. lie can also stand with perfect impunity a blow on 

 his forehead which would split the frontal bone of an ox. Thi.s 

 is owing to its great thickness, and also to the extra protection 

 of a strong ridge or keel which runs down the middle of his 

 head. .V comparatively slight blow on the back of his head kills 

 him. In his natural state he is more thai) a match for any 

 animal that would be inclined to molest him, and can generally 

 keep at bay any dog small enough to enter his hole. Lighting 

 at advantage from behind some stone or root, he gives the most 

 fearful bites and scratches, while the dog lias nothing within his 



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