NATURE AND SPORT IN BRITAIN 



behind the ears, but these can be readily got rid of 

 by the application of paraffin, carbolic, or vinegar. 

 Bill had a weakness for hen's eggs, and a sharp look- 

 out had to be kept on him in respect of this failing. 

 His food consisted chiefly of dog-biscuit, a little meat 

 at times, bones, small birds, worms, and various roots 

 and vegetables. He was fond of an apple occasionally. 

 Usually he slept much during the daytime, always wak- 

 ing up towards evening, and being then extremely frisky 

 and full of life. Occasionally he would wander off for 

 a whole day on his own account, drawn, no doubt, by 

 the primeval attraction of the woods and fields. 



Another tame badger, mentioned in a Swedish maga- 

 zine of last year, struck up a great friendship with two 

 dogs, with one of which it occasionally hunted in the 

 woods. High times the two beasts must have had from 

 the combination of their respective hunting talents. 

 After one of these excursions the badger is described 

 by the translator as returning " quite tired out, and in 

 a very bad humour." This badger would never follow 

 a stranger, and hardly anyone but her owner. " If she 

 wanted to go through a door which she could not open 

 either by pushing or pulling, she would seize hold of 

 someone's clothing for choice a lady's dress with her 

 teeth, and draw them towards the door, with the evident 

 intention of getting them to help her." Another tame 

 badger, next mentioned, was clever enough to manage 

 an awkward latch and let herself out of the yard. 



Mr. E. Lort, writing in the Field some time since, 

 gave some extremely interesting particulars of this 

 other tame badger, which he reared from the age of 

 about three months. This animal, named " Sally," 

 was at first somewhat difficult to tame, refusing to eat 

 for a fortnight. She was ultimately tempted by a fresh 

 rabbit's liver, finely chopped. Finally she became 



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