2l6 



THE BADGER AND WEASEL FAMILY. 



hood all round, and on the slightest danger 

 it takes refuge in one of its passages. When 

 driven into a corner, however, it defends 

 itself with courage, laying itself on its back 

 and fighting with claws and teeth. When 

 pursued into its hole by dogs, it leans its 

 back against the back of its chamber while 

 resisting the aggressor with its claws and 

 teeth, and only when attacked by several 



dogs does it resolve to quit its retreat. It is 

 caught in nets spread in front of the passages 

 leading out of its hole; sometimes it is shot 

 at the instant of emerging from the ground ; 

 sometimes it is dug out or pulled out of its 

 hole after being transfixed with a long spike. 

 The flesh is not bad to eat, and the fat is 

 used in preparing various salves to which 

 great remedial virtues are ascribed. Young 



P"ig. no. — The Cape Ratel (Ratelus capensis). 



badgers have been tamed, but these experi- 

 ments have found few imitators. 



The American Badgers, on account of cer- 

 tain peculiarities in their dentition, have been 

 ranked in a separate genus under the name of 

 Taxidea. They lead a similar life to our bad- 

 ger, and are found throughout North America 

 from the 38th parallel of latitude to Mexico. 

 The Indian Badgers, which have a longer 

 and less bushy tail, are likewise referred to a 

 separate genus under the name of Arctonyx. 



The Telagon or Stinking Badger [Mydaus 

 Telagon), fig. 109, which inhabits the islands 

 of Java and .Sumatra and the neighbouring 

 parts of the mainland, is still more of a 

 burrower than the common badger, from 

 which it is distinguished by its more pointed 

 snout, longer body, rudimentary tail, ears 

 hidden under the hair, and its longer fore- 



paws and toes, which are united together as 

 far as the roots of the long and sharp claws. 

 The fur, composed of long thick hair, exhibits 

 a uniform brown colour except for a white 

 stripe which runs from the head along the 

 back nearly to the root of the tail. 



This little animal, which attains a length 

 of 14 inches at most, is found only on 

 mountains above 6000 feet in height, and 

 has similar habits to our badger. The stink- 

 glands at the anus serve as a means of 

 defence. By muscular pressure the telagon 

 can squirt the ill-smelling moist secretion of 

 these glands to a distance of several feet. 

 The stench is so strong that it may be smelt 

 under the wind at the distance of half a mile 

 or more. The flesh is said to be palatable, 

 but only if the glands have been cut out 

 immediately after the death of the animal. 



