THE BADGER. 73 



the yard, they were put into a small enclosure, walled round 

 with stone, and having an earthen mound in the centre. True 

 to their habits of digging on sloping banks, where there are 

 stones to support their entrance, they first tried the walls all 

 round, to find a place where they could dig a habitation. They 

 then chose an opening between two stones, which was a little 

 elevated above the ground, and had the upper stone projecting 

 over it, serving like a tent-house to protect the burrow from the 

 rain, and partially to conceal it. They could, however, work 

 with but little effect, as the height of the spot obliged them to 

 raise themselves, standing on their hind-legs j the fore-feet had, 

 in consequence, only slight influence upon the plaster and 

 stones. To obviate this difficulty, the male stretched himself 

 upon the ground, and the female, standing on him, was enabled 

 to reach the spot of her desired operations with more effect. 

 Yet their industry and perseverance proved unavailing ; so they 

 abandoned that spot, and made their attempts at another 

 aperture, also under a projecting stone. The second attempt 

 proving equally abortive, they attacked the mound, the female 

 still leading the way and being the most active and principal 

 operator. Even here they did not immediately begin to form 

 the burrow, but ran trial lines or trenches over a great part of 

 the surface, till they came to a place which suited them, and 

 there they began their regular operations. In the first loosening 

 of the earth, they used their snouts 5 then they dug deeper with 

 the fore-paws, flinging the earth backwards between the hind 

 ones, and soon using these to remove it still farther to the rear. 

 When the heap behind them accumulated, they retreated back- 

 wards upon it, and, using all the paws, gradually removed it 

 from the hole. Sometimes one of them would lie down to rest 

 by the side of the other at work, and remain, though half-buried 

 in the earth, and apparently giving considerable interruption to 

 its fellow. The male was most prone to indulge in these lazy 

 fits, while the female was by far the most industrious labourer. 

 Before the morning their work was successfully terminated. 

 Two travellers in France, accompanied by a dog, started a badger, 



