134 



CARNIVORA. 



, size. It also inhabits Scotland, North Wales, Switzer- 

 land, Greece, Kussia, Poland, Bosnia, Western Asia, 

 Siberia, but few are found in Germany and France. 



The Badger is a nocturnal animal, leaving its den, 

 which is made in the earth, at nightfall. It preys 

 occasionally on poultry, and has sometimes been 

 caught in fowl-houses. It is, however, very difficult to 

 trap, and more so to dig out, as it burrows as fast or 

 faster than a man can dig. They are sometimes drawn 

 from their dens with brambles. In Devonshire and 

 other parts it is shot on moonlight nights by persons 

 concealed in trees. It is said to love warmth. 



It feeds on fungus, roots of the wild hyacinth, and 

 other plants, beech-nuts, acorns, fruit, honey of wasps, 

 larvae, insects, eggs, frogs, rats, and mice. 



A writer in the Field says that Badgers are parti- 

 cularly fond of blue-bell roots and toads, and will 

 occasionally capture young rabbits. According to 

 another writer in the same paper, Badgers lie more 

 closely underground in winter than in summer. 



Foxes sometimes occupy Badgers' earths. When 

 tamed, Badgers have been utilized for hunting rats. The 

 weight of the English Badger varies from 26 Ibs. 3 ozs. 

 to 34 Ibs., according to the Field. 



This animal is of a brown, or rather of a grey colour ; 

 the under part is darkish ; the hair is coarse, dark, and 

 tipped with white ; the hair is longer at the sides ; the 

 head has black and white stripes on it ; the tail is short, 

 and covered with bristly hairs ; the young are thickly 

 covered with long black and white hair, which is softer 

 than in the adult animal. About three young are 

 produced at a birth. White specimens are occasionally 

 met with. 



The English Badger is of a good dark colour, and the 



