BADGER. 467 
considered as next in merit for this purpose to 
that of the Beaver. 
BADGER. 
Ursus Meles. U. cauda coficolore, corpore supra cinereo, suhtiis 
7iigro, fascia longitudinali per oculos auresque nigra. Lin. 
Si/st. Nat.p, ^o. 
B. with unmarked tailj body grey above, black below, and a 
longitudinal black band through the eyes and ears. 
Meles. Gesn, Quadr. 687. 
Taxus. Jldr. dig, 263. 
Meles pilis ex sordide albo et nigro variegatis vestita, capite 
taeniis alternatim albis etnigris variegata. Briss, Quadr, p. 183, 
Blaireau. Buff". J, p. 104. ^jZ. 7. 
Common Badger, Pennant Quadr. 2. p. 14. 
The Badger is an inhabitant of all the tempe- 
rate parts of Europe and Asia. Its usual length 
is about two feet from the nose to the tail, which 
measures six inches. It is an animal of very 
clumsy make, being thick-necked and thick-bodied, 
with very short legs. It commonly resides in a 
hole or den under ground, out of which it emerges 
by night in quest of food; feeding chiefly on 
roots and fruits; but it will also devour frogs, 
worms, &c. The Badger is of an uniform grey- 
colour on the upper parts ; and the throat, breast, 
belly, and legs, are black : the face is white, and 
along each side of the head runs a long and 
somewhat triangular or pyramidal band of black, 
including the eyes and ears : the eyes are small, 
and the ears short and rounded : the claws on the 
