v THE BADGER AND HIS KIN 145 
captive mentioned hereafter seemed to know noth- 
ing about tunnelling — had had no chance to learn 
the art, in fact! 
This animal is firm on its feet, very strong, 
armed with formidable teeth, and is an indomitable 
fighter. It was accounted high in the list of beasts 
giving “ greate dysporte” according to the ancient 
canons of venery ; and badger-baiting, once a pop- 
ular recreation among our British forefathers, has 
not yet been wholly abandoned by the ruder of 
their descendants. In early times it was customary 
to place the captive destined to furnish the amuse- 
ment near a hole dug in the ground for his refuge, 
and then to send the dogs at him singly. The 
favorite sort for this work’ was a long-bodied, 
long-jawed hound, which, as the badger was then 
frequently called the “grey,” came to be known 
as a “greyhound.” Nowadays, when the sport is 
attempted, a barrel is furnished instead of the 
snugger hole in the ground, and a number of dogs 
are set upon the poor beast at once — an example 
of how such cruel sports naturally descend into 
mere torture. This villanous practice will soon’ 
entirely disappear, but its memory will be per- 
petuated in the expressive verb, “to badger.” 
While, then, he can and does put up a good 
fight if attacked when abroad, he never fails to 
make strenuous efforts to gain the strategic posi- 
tion afforded by the mouth of his tunnel, —the 
sallyport of his fortress,— where he makes a 
L 
