THE BADGER 



after two years for a suit of darker, purer 

 grey. The badger's tail is about five inches 

 long, covered with long, coarse, lighter- 

 coloured hair than that on his body, and is 

 of a yellowish-brown colour. 



The badger has another peculiar distinction 

 that is somewhat mysterious, viz. a pouch, 

 the vent of which is close under the root of 

 the tail, and contains an oily foetid matter 

 which he has the power of emitting. Differ- 

 ent uses have been ascribed to this provision, 

 such as that which ferrets and polecats have. 

 I have never noticed a badger use it as 

 has been suggested, as a mode of defence 

 or annoyance, and am sure that this is not 

 its purpose. But there is no doubt the 

 badger sucks and licks this substance, whether 

 by way of taking a tonic, a cooling draught, 

 a stimulant, or other physic I cannot say. I 

 am, however, inclined to believe that from 

 this source he is able to maintain his health 

 and support life during those periods of 

 seclusion and total retirement in his "earth " 

 which have led naturalists to describe him as 



a hibernating animal. 



29 



