v THE BADGER AND HIS KIN 153 
The following extracts from an account of a 
tame badger printed by the Youth's Companion, in 
1896, contain interesting facts. He had not yet 
opened his eyes when captured, and was brought 
up on a nursing-bottle. He thrived, and soon 
became a mischievous pet, constantly under foot. 
His voice was that of a very young crying baby, 
but much more noisy; and in extreme anger he 
would squeal like a pig. When a terrier, whom he 
was constantly teasing, turned on him, he would 
tuck his head between his feet and roll himself 
into a compact furry ball with which the dog could 
do nothing; but he had not the patience to main 
tain this attitude of defence very long. He ran 
almost as well backward as forward, but liked 
better to reach his destination by rolling over and 
over instead of walking. As he grew larger, a fa- 
vorite trick was to open the door of the stove and 
rake out coals and ashes upon the floor. Although 
quick to resent any harm (and the grandmother was 
the only one of the family that dared punish him — 
before her he was meek), he seemed never to bear 
resentment or be treacherous, and was well dis- 
posed toward strangers. He became fond of 
chasing the chickens, and would make havoc 
among the poultry unless prevented. 
“Badge,” his master records, “is a model house- 
keeper in his way. He is very fond of cherries, 
nibbling the food daintily and rejecting the pit. 
When he has finished eating the cherries he care- 
