DWELLINGS. l6l 



which may reach the length of three or four metres. 

 They enlarge the extremity of it into a vaulted and 

 circular room more than two metres in diameter. 

 They make there a good pile of very dry hay on 

 which they all install themselves, after having care- 

 fully protected themselves against the external cold 

 by closing up the passage with stones and calking the 

 interstices with grass and moss. 



In solitary woods or roads the Badger (Meles), who 

 does not like noise, prepares for himself a peaceful 

 retreat, clean and well ventilated, composed of a vast 

 chamber situated about a metre and a half beneath 

 the surface. He spares no pains over it, and makes 

 it communicate with the external world by seven or 

 eight very long passages, so that the points where 

 they open are about thirty paces distant from one 

 another. In this way, if an enemy discovers one of 

 them and introduces himself into the Badger's home, 

 the Badger can still take flight through one of the 

 other passages. In ordinary times they serve for the 

 aeration of the central room. The animal attaches 

 considerable importance to this. He is also very 

 clean in his habits, and every day may be seen coming 

 out for little walks, having an object of an opposite 

 nature to the search for food. This praiseworthy 

 habit is, as we shall see, exploited by the Fox in an 

 unworthy manner. 



The Fox has many misdeeds on his conscience, but 

 his conduct towards the Badger is peculiarly in- 

 delicate. The Fox is a skilful digger, and when he 

 cannot avoid it, he can hollow out a house with 

 several rooms. The dwelling has numerous openings, 

 both as a measure of prudence and of hygiene, for 

 this arrangement enables the air to be renewed. He 



II 



