380 THE BADGER. 



slightly curved, extremely powerful, and well suited for digging in the ground, as the 

 toes are united for the entire length. The tail is extremely short. 



In its wild state the Sand-Bear is said to be fierce in disposition, and sufficiently 

 powerful to beat off a dog that would not hesitate to attack a wolf or a hyena. When 

 attacked or irritated, the Sand-Bear raises itself on its hind legs, after the manner of the 

 bears, and threatens its antagonist with its fore-limbs, in which it seems fully to trust. 

 Its food is of a mixed character, but appears to be more of a vegetable than an animal 

 nature. It is not a very common animal, and is generally found in the hill country. 



SAND-BEAR, OR BALlSAUR.-Arctoayx Collaris. 



ALTHOUGH one of the most quiet and inoffensive of our indigenous animals, the 

 BADGER has been subjected to such cruel persecutions as could not be justified even 

 if the creature was as destructive and noisome as it is harmless or innocuous. For 

 the purposes of so-called " sport," the Badger was captured and kept in a cage ready 

 to be tormented at the cruel will of every ruffian who might choose to risk his dog 

 against the sharp teeth of the captive animal. 



Although the Badger is naturally as harmless an animal as can be imagined, it is a 

 terrible antagonist when provoked to use the means of defence with which it is so well 

 provided. Not only are the teeth long and sharp, but the jaws are so formed, that 

 when the animal closes its mouth the jaws " lock " together by a peculiar structure of 

 their junction with the skull, and retain their hold without the need of any special 

 effort on the part of the animal. The subject is by no means a pleasant one, and will 

 not be further noticed. 



Unlike the generality of the weasel tribe, the Badger is slow and clumsy in its act- 

 ions, and rolls along so awkwardly in its gait that it may easily be mistaken for a 

 young pig in the dark of the evening, at which time it first issues from its burrow. 

 The digging capacities of the Badger are very great, the animal being able to sink 

 itself into the ground with marvellous rapidity. For this power the Badger is indebted 

 to the long curved claws with which the fore feet are armed, and to the great develop- 

 ment of the muscles that work the fore-limbs. 



