THE BADGER 



He will then shuffle about and get further 

 from the hole. You will watch him descend 

 into some bracken-covered hollow, and will 

 see nothing more of him for awhile. Then 

 you will hear him gently pushing and shoving 

 and grunting, and know that he is very busy 

 over something. He will reappear bumping 

 along backwards, a heap of bracken and of 

 grass or old straw, left from a pheasant feed, 

 under his belly, and encircled by his arms 

 and fore-feet. He will continue this most 

 undignified and curious mode of retrogression 

 to the earth, and will disappear tail first 

 down his hole, still hugging and tugging at 

 his burden. 



"It is very pleasant to behold them when 

 they gather materials for their Couch, as 

 straw, leaves, moss, and such-like ; for with 

 their Feet and their Head they will wrap 

 as much together as a man will carry under 

 his arm, and will make shift to get into 

 their Cells and Couches " ( The Gentleman s 

 Recreation). 



I have not seen a badger make more than 

 two such excursions by daylight, but have 



49 E 



