HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 



281 



THE BADGER. 



(Ursus Melcs, Linn. Lc Blair can , on Tai'sou, BufF.) 



ALTHOUGH nature has furnished this animal with 

 formidable weapons of offence, and has besides 

 given it strength sufficient to use them with great 

 effect, it is notwithstanding very harmless and in- 

 offensive; and, unless attacked, employs them only 

 for its support. 



The Badger retires to the most secret recesses, 

 where it digs its hole; and forms its habitation 

 under ground. Its food consists chiefly of roots, 

 fruits, grass, insects, and frogs. It is charged with 

 destroying Lambs and Rabbits, but there seems ,to 

 be no other reason to consider it as a beast of prey, 

 than the analogy between its teeth and those of 

 carnivorous animals. 



Few creatures defend themselves better, or bite 

 with greater keenness, than the Badger. On that 

 account it is frequently baited with Dogs trained 

 for the purpose. This inhuman diversion is chiefly 

 confined to the idle and the vicious, who take a 

 cruel pleasure in seeing this harmless animal sur- 



VOL. in. 2 x 



