THE BADGER. 



takes pofleffion of the Badger's empty den, and, fome fay, forces the true 

 owner from its habitation, by leaving offenfive difcharges at the mouth of it. 



Nature, having denied the Badger that fpeed which is neceffary to fecure 

 its efcape from its enemies, has kindly compenfated for that defect, by 

 furniming it with mch weapons of offence, that very few creatures will 

 hazard the attacking it. When clofely purfued, it foon comes to bay, and, 

 taking the advantage of fome corner, rifes up on its hinder legs and combats 

 with defperate refolution. On this account it is often baited with Dogs 

 properly trained for this purpofe ; but this inhuman diverfion is ufually 

 confined to the indolent and vicious, who take delight in the favage pleafure 

 of feeing a poor innocent animal furrounded by its enemies, and, although 

 overcharged by numbers, defending itfelf from their combined attacks with 

 wonderful activity and effect. It is fo rapid in its motions, that the dogs are 

 often defperately wounded on the firft affault, and compelled to give up the 

 conteft. The loofenefs of the Badger's Ikin enables it to turn itfelf eaflly 

 round when feized, and gives it an opportunity of wounding its enemies in 

 their molt, tender parts ; and the thicknefs of it, added to the length and 

 coarfenefs of the hair, defends it much from the bites of the Dogs. Thefe 

 animals are hunted with Dogs in the winter nights, and afford a fpecies of 

 diverfion to thofe who are fond of the fport : when taken, their hind quarters 

 are fometimes made into hams, which are well flavoured, but the fat is apt 

 to become nifty by keeping. The Ikin, dreffed with the hair on, is made 

 ufe of as piftol furniture, and brumes are made of the hair, which painters 

 call fweetening tools, and ufe them to harmonize and foften their Ihades. 



The ufual method of catching Badgers is with a fteel trap, or fpringe; or 

 elfe to dig a pitfall, acrofs their accuftomed path, which muft be five feet 

 deep, and four feet long, narrow at the top and bottom, and wide in the 

 middle. This pit muft be covered with fmall flicks which have their leaves 

 on, them, fo as that the Badger may not fufpect any defign, and fall into it 

 when, he attempts to crofs over. They are alfo, fometimes, hunted into 

 their holes on a moon-mine night, and then dug out again (a). 



(a) Mortimer's Hufbandry/Vol. L p. 314. 



