BADGER. 165 



the Mammalia of the Amoor river, as Meles taxus, var. 

 Amurensis. The Badger was known to the ancients, for 

 Pliny speaks of it, though but cursorily, but Aristotle 

 does not even allude to it. 



The word Badger is of very uncertain origin. Skinner 

 derives it from the Teutonic "Back," the jaw, quasi 

 " Backer," on account of the great strength of that part 

 in this animal. The Ahglo-Saxon " Broc "* is still re- 

 tained in Scotland and in the northern counties of Eng- 

 land ; it is also termed " Grey," and " Bawsened-pate j " 

 the word Bawsened meaning striped with white. 



As far as we have observed, it is only borne in Heraldry 

 as " canting arms ;" it occurs in the coats of Badger and 

 Brock. 



The body is robust, though somewhat elongated ; the 

 legs are short, and the body consequently low ; but it 

 appears more so than it really is, in consequence of the 

 length of the hair on the belly, which even reaches to 

 the ground. The head is taper, and the muzzle pro- 

 duced ; the ears small and rounded, and nearly hidden 

 in the long hair of the sides of the head ; the eyes 

 small ; the tongue smooth ; the number of the grinding 

 teeth is variously stated by different naturalists as being 

 f'T' 6'f' i'-i> °'' f-l> according as a small rudimentary 

 false molar exists or is wanting, immediately behind the 

 canine, above or below. In a cranium in our possession 

 it is wanting in both jaws ; and, on the contrary, Desma- 

 rest gives the higher number, from a specimen in which 

 it existed in both ; whilst in Frederic Cuvier's figure and 

 description it is wanting in the upper and exists in the 

 lower. The second incisive tooth in the lower jaw is 

 placed behind the other two. 



* Many places still retain the name originally given, from the occurrence of 

 the "Brock" — Brockbridge, in the parish of Selborne — Brockenhurst, &c. 



