BEASTS OF PREY 47 



{d) The neck is short and muscular, enabling it to exert the utmost 

 force in burrowing and rummaging. (Compare with mole.) 



B. Structwe and Habitat. 



The badger cannot escape from its enemies (dogs and men) by the 

 speed of its legs. Consequently it is a shy, timid creature, leading a 

 nocturnal life, and lying hidden during the day in some safe hiding-place 

 under the earth. It usually digs its burrow on the sunny side of wooded 

 hills. Its dwelling consists of a central chamber and several tubular 

 passages from 25 to 30 feet in length. The central chamber is warmly 

 lined with moss and leaves, and serves as a sleeping apartment, living- 

 room, and nursery. From it several passages lead vertically upwards for 

 the purpose of ventilation. The whole structure displays exemplary 

 neatness and cleanliness. 



The structural characters of its body render the badger specially 

 adapted for digging out a dwelling of the kind above described : 



(a) The legs are short and very powerful. 



(&) The sharp broad claws of the fore-feet serve as shovels, while by 

 means of its hind-legs it energetically throws backwards the earth which 

 has been dug up. 



(c) In removing earth-heaps of larger size, it makes use of its sturdy 

 body. Supporting itself on its powerful feet, it puts its back against the 

 «arth-heap, and by stepping backwards gradually pushes it out of its 

 dwelling. 



(d) The bristly hairs are short and lie flat on the skin, so that no dirt 

 can accumulate between them. On the back they are of an earthy-gray 

 colour, in correspondence with that of the animal's surroundings. 

 Neither the black and white stripes on the head, nor the black colour 

 of the feet and belly, render it conspicuous during its nightly excursions. 

 Not being an adept at leaping, like the marten, its tail is but short. 



C. Hibernation. 



By the advent of autumn the badger has become well nourished and 

 fat. This accumulated fat renders it capable of existing through its 

 long winter fast. The layer of fat beneath the skin protects the body 

 like a warm inner coat, the coarse-haired ' overcoat ' not being well 

 adapted to keep out the cold. Until the cold becomes severe it lives on 

 the turnips and parsnips which it has stored up. Then it rolls itself up, 

 in order to offer the least possible cooling surface to the air, and falls into 

 a deep sleep. With the approach of milder weather it awakes, and goes 

 to the nearest spring to drink ; then once more returns to its castle, 

 .and continues its. sleep till the actual return of spring. 



