352 Fretp Museum or Natura History — Zoérocy, Vor. XI. 
The Badger is a shy animal, largely nocturnal in its habits, and is 
rarely seen even in localities where it is common. It is clumsy and slow. 
in its movements and subsists largely upon ground Rodents, such as 
Prairie Squirrels, Mice, etc., which it digs out with little difficulty, 
although it also eats insects, snails, honey, young birds and eggs. Its 
home is a burrow in the ground in dry and preferably sandy soil. Kenni- 
cott says its underground habitation is sometimes 6 feet deep and 30 
feet in length, but he found others only 2 feet below the surface and but 
6 feet in length (J. c., p. 251). All authorities agree that the Badger 
hibernates in cold weather, at least in the northern part of its range; 
but the length of its winter sleep apparently depends largely upon the 
temperature. The young are usually born in May and number from 
2 to 5. 
Badgers are provided with anal glands secreting a noxious smelling 
fluid, but our species cannot forceably eject it like the Skunks. The 
skins of Badgers make very good fur and are much used for robes, as 
well as muffs and tippets of the cheaper grade. The hair is also used in 
the manufacture of shaving brushes and artists’ materials. 
Specimens examined from Illinois and Wisconsin: 
Wisconsin — (M. P. M.) Milton, Rock Co., 1; (O. C.) Douglas Co. 
(skull), 1; Milton, Rock Co. (skull), 1; (S. C.) Dodge Co., 5; (0.) 
Walworth Co., 1=9. 
Subfamily MUSTELINZA. Wolverine, Martens, 
Minks, Weasels, etc. 
Genus GULO Storr. 
Gulo Storr, Prodr. Meth. Mamm., 1780, p. 34. Type Mustela gulo Linn. 
Body stout; hair thick and long; claws large and curved; tail short 
and bushy; ears short; rostrum short; zygomata broadly expanded; 
bulle laterally elongated, forming a tubular auditory meatus; upper 
molar extending inward at right angle with the carnassial; last lower 
molar small; feet semi-plantigrade. 
I-I 4-4 T=1 
Dental formula: 1. 23, C2 Pa 2S —-= 34. 
353 I~I ~4 2-2 
aN 
