THE BADGER 



English counties, however, the badger has 

 given in before ceaseless digging, snaring, 

 and shooting, and the silent covert where he 

 had his earth, where he dug and delved and 

 made his wonderful subterranean stronghold, 

 knows him no more. He has gone with the 

 polecat, the pine marten, the wild cat, the 

 harriers, the buzzards, and a host of the 

 brightest and loveliest of our birds. Guilt- 

 less of the crimes of his fellow-victims against 

 game, he was and is still ignorantly classed 

 under that all-embracing word of the keeper, 

 " vermin." There are few who lament his 

 disappearance save perhaps the makers of 

 shaving-brushes, and the old people whose 

 faith in the efficacy of " badger-grease " can 

 no longer find the opportunity of exercising 

 the same. This faith is an old one. I read 

 in the Sporting Magazine, 1 800, volume xvii. 

 — " The flesh, blood, and grease of the 

 badger are very useful for oils, ointments, 

 salves, and powders, for shortness of breath, 

 the cough of the lungs, for the stone, 

 sprained sinews, coll-achs, etc. The skin, 

 being well dressed, is very warm and com- 



