i86 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



MAMMALIA. 



Habits of the Badger.— In neither the Editor's very interesting 

 article on the Badger (Zool. 1888, p. 1) nor in Bell's ' British Quadrupeds,' 

 do I find mention of a circumstance that came under my observation 

 on the 9th April last. There are a good many badger-earths in Curragh- 

 more, the demesne of the Marquis of Waterford, in my parish, and 

 while examining one of these, a hole near the entrance of a very 

 large burrow was pointed out to me by the head gamekeeper. This 

 hole was partially rilled with the excrement of the Badgers, and was 

 evidently the place that was constantly used by them for the purpose. The 

 whole surroundings of the burrow were perfectly clean. It is, I believe, 

 well known that Badgers are very cleanly animals. An instance of this is 

 given in the Editor's article (p. 7), and I think the circumstance I have 

 mentioned confirms their character in this respect. Mr. Gordon, the game- 

 keeper, told me that he had often seen places of the kind near the entrance 

 of badger-earths, but it was, I confess, a new experience to me. — William 

 W. Fleming (Coolfin, Portlaw, Co. Waterford). 



[Some years ago, when staying on a visit with Mr. Assheton Smith, at 

 Vaynol, North Wales, where Badgers are not only plentiful, but are strictly 

 protected, our attention was particularly directed to the trait above referred 

 to, and during our rambles in the woods we had ocular demonstration of 

 the truth of it. We remember, too, the amusement of our host on our 

 remarking that it was evident the Badger was the original inventor of the 

 "earth-closet," though modern patentees had sought to deprive him of 

 the credit which properly belonged to him. — Ed.] 



The Badger: its period of gestation. — On April 7th, 1893, a 

 female Badger was trapped at the mouth of its " earth " in Isell Woods, 

 and after having been kept in close confinement for twelve months she gave 

 birth, during the first week of April, 1894, to two young ones. Is not this an 

 unusual occurrence, for no other Badger is known to have had access to her 

 during her captivity ? — J. R. Denwood (Kirkgate, Cockermouth). 



[The average period of gestation in the Badger is believed to be about 

 twelve months, but instances are on record in which these animals have 

 produced young after being in confinement for thirteen and even fifteen 

 months. A good deal of evidence on the subject will be found in ■ The 

 Zoologist ' for 1888, pp. 12, 13.— Ed.] 



Black Rats on Ships in Port. — The man from whom the Black Rats 

 were obtained is a professional ratcatcher. He lives at Birkenhead, near 

 Liverpool, and makes his living by catchiug rats on the large rice and grain 

 ships when they are in port. Those lately taken were caught on the 

 s.8. ■ Clan Ronald ' while she was lying in a dock at Birkenhead. The 

 ♦ Clan Ronald ' had shortly before arrived from Bombay, and had a cargo 



