Badgers. 247 
the relic of an old warren which once occupied half 
the field. The nettle-covered heaps mark old exca- 
vations ; where the sand shows, there the miners have 
been recently at work. At the sound of approaching 
footsteps those inhabitants that had been abroad 
hastily rushed into their caves, but now (after waiting 
awhile, and forgetting that the adjacent hollow might 
hide the enemy) a dozen or more have come forth 
within easy gunshot. Though a few like this are 
always looking in and out all through the day, it is 
not till the approach of evening that they come out 
in any number. 
This is a favourite spot from whence to get a shot 
at them, but the aim must be deadly, or the rabbit 
will escape though never so severely wounded. The 
holes are so numerous that he has never more than a 
yard to scramble, and as he goes down into the earth 
his own weight carrieshim on. If he can but live ten 
seconds after the lead strikes him, he will generally 
escape you. Watching patiently (without firing), 
after the twilight has deepened into night, presently | 
you are aware of a longer, larger creature than a 
rabbit stealing out, seeming to travel close to the 
earth: it is a badger. There are almost always a 
couple somewhere about the warren. Their residence 
is easily discovered because of the huge heap of sand 
thrown out from the rabbit-hole they have chosen; 
and it is this ease of discovery that has caused the 
diminution of their numbers by shot or spade. 
