THE BADGER. 



convenience and fupport, unlefs when attacked by its enemies, at which 

 time it defends itfelf with great fiercenefs and effect. It is as wrongfully 

 charged with killing Rabbits, and even Lambs ; for which fcandalous 

 afperlions there feems to be no other foundation, than the limilitude between 

 the formation of its teeth and thofe of carniverous animals. A ufeful leffon 

 may be learned from hence, by thofe who are but too prone to afperfe the 

 characters of their neighbours: they ihould be well allured of the authenticity 

 of llanderous reports, before they venture to fpread them abroad ; and, even 

 then, it is generally much better to conceal them, or at leaft only to 

 admonilh their neighbours privately. 



The Badger is in general rather more than two feet In length, from the 

 extremity of the nofe to the infertion of the tail, which is lix inches long. 



The hair on the body is long, coarfe, and briflly : each hair is of three 

 colours; the bottom, next the root, is of a dirty yellowim white, the middle 

 is black, and the extremity grey : hence arofe the old proverb, " as grey as 

 a badger." The general colour of the head is white, except a black 

 pyramidal line, which begins between the nofe and eyes, and extends beyond 

 the ears ; the throat, breaft, belly, and legs are black ; the eyes are fmall, 

 the ears round, and the neck fhort and thick. Under the tail is a gland, from 

 which exudes a white fubftance, of a fostid fmell. The toes on the fore-feet 

 are furnimed with claws, which are remarkably long and Urong, and well 

 adapted to the purpofe of digging in the ground. This animal, in walking, 

 treads on its whole heel, like the Bear, which, added to the extraordinary 

 length of the hair on the body, gives its legs the appearance of being fo 

 ihort, that the body feems almoft to touch the ground. 



The Badger is a flupid, folitary animal; it carefully fliuns the vicinity of 

 man, and lives retired in a deep fubterraneous hole, which it digs with great 

 afliduity and addrefs, throwing out the loofe earth behind as it advances. It 

 is an idle, indolent animal, and fleeps much, confining itfelf to its hole 

 during the whole day, and feeding only in the night, when it fallies forth in 

 fearch of roots, fruits, grafs, infects, and frogs. During thefe nocturnal 

 excurlions, the Fox, which is not fo expert at digging in the earth, cunningly 



