CULTURE OF FUR-BEARERS — 267 
ually oceupy deserted burrows of the badger, re- 
modeled, if need be, to suit their convenience. 
“But it must not be supposed that all the in- 
numerable badger-diggings are the residences of these 
animals. The badger, too slow of foot to capture 
the nimble rodents which form its principal food, 
perpetually seeks them in their own retreats; and it 
is the work of a few minutes for this vigorous miner 
to so far enlarge their burrows that it can enter 
and reach the deepest recesses. In places where the 
badgers and spermophiles most abound, the continual 
excavation of the soil by these animals fairly under- 
mines and honeycombs the ground.’’ 
Prehistoric plowing. The conditions above 
described existed mainly in regions of little use 
for agriculture, and as fast as civilization was 
extended into the badger country the animals 
lessened rapidly, for one reason or another, and 
their holes became filled up. This is illustrated 
by experience in Manitoba, where, as Seton in- 
formed us, ‘‘the work of the badger is now con- 
fined largely to the strips of prairie that exist 
along the road-allowances, where it can do but 
little harm.’’ 
As an offset to these troublesome habits 
(from man’s point of view) it must be remem- 
bered that by the incessant and multitudinous 
