THE ZOOLOGIST. 



THIRD SERIES. 



Vol. XIL] JANUARY, 1888. [No. J 33. 



THE BADGER, MELES TAXUS. 

 By the Editob. 



Plate I. 



Many people seem to be under the impression that the 

 Badger, if not actually extinct in the British Islands, is at all 

 events a very scarce animal at the present day. This is far from 

 being the case. In many parts of the country the Badger is still 

 not at all uncommon, and in certain districts which might be 

 named it is even on the increase, owing to the protection afforded 

 it. The reason for its supposed scarcity arises from two causes, 

 firstly, the nature of its haunts, which are generally in the deep 

 recesses of large woods, fox-coverts, and quarries ; and, secondly, 

 the nature of its habits, which are shy and retiring, and chiefly 

 nocturnal. 



A full-grown Badger will stand about a foot in height at the 

 withers, and measure from 2 ft. 6 in. to 3 ft. in length, weighing 

 perhaps 25 fas. to 30 fbs. In appearance it may be described as 

 having the head small, with small rounded ears, and tapering 

 towards the snout ; white in colour, with a longitudinal black 

 stripe on each side of the face extending backwards from the 

 snout, and widening so as to include the eyes and ears ; the 

 tail short and bushy, from six to seven inches in length ; the 

 legs robust and short; feet plantigrade, with five toes armed 

 with strong curved claws, well adapted for digging and bur- 

 rowing. The skin (which is remarkably loose and thick, 

 enabling the animal wherever seized to turn upon its assailant) 



ZOOLOGIST. — JAN. 1888. B 



