. THE BADGER 



In Scotland the badger is now rare. In 

 the north-eastern counties, where till recently 

 he was to be met with in every wild 

 woodland and forest district, he has entirely 

 vanished. In Ross-shire and in the west 

 he is occasionally found in places where the 

 wild cat and marten are making their last 

 stand against the keeper and his extermin- 

 ating engine, the steel trap. In Ireland 

 the badger is still found in the Wild West. 

 I have come upon him in Connemara, near 

 the Killery harbour, and have heard of him 

 in Kerry and other counties. 



As to the distribution of the badger in 

 Ireland I quote the following interesting 

 letters from the Field: — 



" ' Lepus Hibernicus' may be glad to 

 know that the badger is still fairly common in 

 the neighbourhood of Clonmel. The country 

 people, who know them better under the 

 name of ' earth-dogs,' in distinction to 'water- 

 dogs,' or otters, not unfrequently catch them 

 in one way or another, and offer them for 

 sale. Fortunately for the badger the demand 

 is extremely limited." — Badger (Clonmel). 



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