AMERICAN BADGER. 133 



like a solid rock. Like the Bears, the Badgers do not 

 lose much flesh during their long hibernation, for, on 

 coming abroad in spring, they are observed to be very 

 fat. As they pair, however, at that season, they soon 

 become lean." 



BADGEK. 



Meles tax us. 

 French: Blaireau. German: Dachs. 



The Badger is an animal of quiet disposition and 

 extremely cleanly habits, and although it gives out a 

 certain pungent smell, it hardly deserves its stigma in 

 the proverb "to stink like a badger." The other 

 popular term of badgering a person is more appropriate, 

 as the Badger possesses high courage, defending itself 

 against odds to great advantage, even in the cruel sport 

 of Badger-drawing, where it fights although minus its 

 teeth. 



The ancient name was Brock, and the Badger-dogs 

 were called Brocksdogs. It is still found in many 

 names of places, such as : Brockdish, Brockholes, 

 Brockswerth, Brockmoor, Brockley, Brockshill, Brocks- 

 field, Broxbourne, Brockenhurst, Brocklesby, Brocks- 

 bridge, Brocksham, and Brockhampton. From this it 

 will appear that the Badger was abundant in most 

 counties of England ; it is still found in Gloucestershire, 

 Nottinghamshire, Staffordshire, Derbyshire, Devonshire, 

 Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Cornwall. It is very rare 

 in Sussex, and appears to be extinct in the greater part 

 of Kent, although one was recently captured at Lydden, 

 near Dover, and a few are found near Hythe. It is not 

 uncommon in the Isle of Wight, where it attains a large 



