86 
DESCRIP. 
BAD GE RS Ga 
its teeth and thofe of carnivorous animals. Nature 
_ denied the badger the fpeed and aétivity requifite to 
efcape its enemies, fo hath fupplied it with fuch 
weapons of offence that fcarce any creature would 
hazard the attacking it; few animals defend them- 
felves better, or bite harder: when purfued, they 
foon come to bay, and fight with great obftinacy. 
It is an indolent animal, and fleeps much, for 
which reafon it is always found very fat. It bur- 
rows under ground, like the fox; and forms feve- 
ral different apartments, though with only one en- 
trance, carrfying in its mouth grafs in order to 
form a bed for its young. It confines itfelf to 
its hole during the whole day, feeding only at 
night: it is fo cleanly an animal as never to obey 
the calls of nature in its apartments; but goes out 
for that purpofe: it breeds only once in a year, 
and brings four or five at a time. 
The ufual length of the badger, is two feet fix 
inches, exclufive of the tail, which is but fix inches 
long: the weight fifteen pounds. The eyes are ve- 
ry fmall: the ears fhort and rounded: the neck 
fhort: the whcle fhape of the body clumfy and 
thick ; which being covered with long coarfe hairs 
Jike briftles, makes it appear ftill more aukward. 
The mouth is furnifhed with fix cutting teeth and 
two canine teeth in each jaw; the lower has five 
grinders on each fide, the upper five; in all thirty 
four. 
The nofe, chin, lower fides of the cheeks, and 
the 
