75 
11. Meles taxes (Flem). Badger. 
At the commencement of the present century, the Badger was 
not uncommon in Norfolk ; it is probable the aboriginal race is 
now extinct, and that those occasionally met with are either 
stragglers or descended from a stock introduced in consequence of 
their usefulness in forming earths for the foxes. In 1834, Messrs. 
Paget wrote — “ Thirty years ago these were common, especially 
about Bradwell and Browston [Suffolk], but they are entirely 
extirpated.” I find the following instances of the occurrence of 
the Badger in Norfolk: 1857, February 12th, adult, killed in the 
railway cutting near Brundall. 18G0, March 9th, old female, at 
Ilickling. 18G2, January 4th, one taken alive at Intwood. This 
is the one referred to by Mr. Gurney, [Tratimcfions Norfolk and 
Norwich Naturalists' Society, 18G9-70, p. 25), as having been dug 
out of its burrow at Intwood. 18G4, February 11th, an adult at 
Melton j and 18G5, July 2Gth, a young male at the same place; 
18G8, one at Somerton. Mr. F. Norgate, writing in December, 
1870, says : “ About four years ago a gamekeejjer told me he dug 
a badger out of a hole in the parish of Sail, (or Ileydon 1) and in a 
branch of the same hole was a nest of three young rabbits, alive.” 
12. Lutra vulgaris (Erxleb). Otter. 
The otter is found occasionally on all the streams in the county, 
but its great stronghold is in the broads, where it is probably more 
numerous than is generally supposed ; its retiring habits and the 
silent manner in which it glides into the water upon the first 
alarm enable it easily to escape detection. When the snow is on 
the ground their “ seals ” are often observed. In Mr. Stevenson’s 
notes, kindly placed at my disposal, I find mention of no less than 
forty otters sent up to Norwich for preservation, between the years 
1852 and 18G7, and a bird staffer in this city told me that in one 
year sixteen passed through his hands alone. The weight of a full 
grown Norfolk Otter appears to be from 18 to 28 or even 30 lbs, 
and the length from 44 to 48 inches; one fine fellow, killed 
during the present winter, on the ice at Eanworth, is said to 
have weighed 30 lbs., and measured 4 ft. 9 in. in length. The 
female does not reach so great a weight as the male. !Mr. Gurney 
gives some interesting particulars of the habits of the otter in the 
Transactions of the Norfolk and Norwich Naturalists’ Society, for 
18G9-70, p. 24. 
