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hawks, and other wild creatures, furred and feathered, formerly denizens of our 
English woodlands. The badger, it should be remembered, is an exceedingly 
retiring animal. He lives in a kind of underground fortress, from which it is 
difficult to dislodge him, and which he never leaves till it is dusk, when he sets 
out on his nightly prowl. He is chased by enthusiastic sportsmen, as the fox 
used to be in former days, on his return home. When his trail is once found by 
a little pack of good terriers, a capital run may be had, and if a sack is placed at 
the mouth of his castle, he is generally taken alive. Digging him out or forcing 
him to bolt with dogs is a much more arduous task, as he fights furiously, and is 
rarely conquered till he has left his mark upon some of his assailants. But what 
becomes of the badgers when they are taken? What was done with the sixteen 
animals whose fate is recorded by Mr. Lush ? They were surely not all destroyed ; 
and what is the good of taking them only to keep them in cages, or to turn them 
loose again? If they were caught and killed as vermin, we should protest 
emphatically against such wholesale slaughter of one of the few really wild 
species still existing in these Isl.inds. Possibly they kill a fox cub now and then, 
and make away with a good many rabbits ; but they do not do enough damage 
to be seriously injurious to sport, or to justify a war of extermination. It is also 
the case that the badger is as fond of honey as ursa major, and as no stings can 
penetrate his hide, he can feast on the nests of wild bees, wasps, and hornets, 
whose grubs he thinks delicious, with perfect impunity. Occasionally this sweet 
tooth of his will lure him into gardens, where he does not hesitate to upset the 
bee hives and swallow the contents. But is the poor badger to be driven out of 
the country for such peccadilloes as these, and our woods deprived of one of their 
most ancient and interesting inhabitants ? With all respect to the gamekeepers, 
we hope not. 
Butterflies for the London Parks. — L. writes: “As 
I noticed an article in your issue for June on the subject 
of butterflies in the London parks by Mr. E. T. Daubeny, 
it may interest some of your readers to know what is 
actually being done. The question of attempting to naturalise 
butterflies in London was first brought before the London 
County Council in November last. The chairman took the 
matter up warmly and, at his request, a scheme was drawn up 
for the consideration of the Parks Committee. The scheme was 
approved, and the Council determined to try the experiment 
this year in Battersea Park. If it is successful we may hope 
that it may be extended to other parks under the London 
County Council, and possibly also to the Royal parks. The 
Council have now completed a greenhouse for use as a breeding 
house, which has been constructed under the advice of the well- 
known naturalist, Mr. W. Furneaux, who has kindly under- 
taken to supply the necessary larvae. The three butterflies 
with which the experiment will be first tried are the Red 
Admiral, the Peacock, and the Small Tortoise Shell. All these 
species feed on the common nettle, and therefore the question 
of food plants is comparatively easy. If Mr. Daubeny, or any 
other of your readers, wish to assist in this excellent project they 
can do so by sending larvae, or, still better, pupae of these three 
butterflies in as large numbers as possible to W. Furneaux, 
Esq., 48, Ommaney Road, New Cross, S.E., advising him 
beforehand of their intention. Several thousands of pupae and 
larvae are now in the breeding house, chiefly of Van&ssa Uvtica. 
It is much to be hoped that a really good supply of V . lo and 
V. Atalania will follow in due season.” 
