341 
THE STORY OF THE BADGER. 
in the same burrow; in one of these cases a fox having annually given birth 
to cubs in the badger’s den. 
Within the deep recesses of its burrow, which often terminates in a fork¬ 
like manner, are born the young of the badger; the number in a litter being 
usually three or four. The young are produced during the summer; and 
are at first blind, not acquiring the power of sight till the tenth day. 
When the badger apprehends danger, in order to afford additional 
security, the mouth of the burrow is blocked from the inside by its occupant. 
The burrow is always kept scrupulously clean, and is lined with fern and 
other vegetable substances. As the winter approaches, the old bedding is 
replaced by dry fern and grass raked together by the badger’s powerful 
claws. This is often left to wither in little heaps till dry enough for the 
purpose. Partially concealed, I have watched a badger gathering fern, and 
using a force in r.s collection quite surprising. 
The fur is of some value, being used for muffs, tippets, robes and trim¬ 
mings, while the long hairs are employed in the manufacture of brushes. 
The price of a skin is from a dollar to two dollars. 
In Australia where many of the animals like the kangaroo, the wolf, the 
marten and others are fitted by nature with a bag or pouch in which they 
carry their young, is found a queer little animal known as the bondicot or 
long-nosed pouched badger. Little is known of the habits of this animal. 
Occasional specimens have exceedingly long ears like the one shown in ou.r 
illustration. 
This badger feeds on plants and seeds, and also on insects and worms. 
Another peculiar species of badger is found in East Africa. It is called 
the ratel or honey badger. 
It surpasses the skunk in the rapidity with which it burrows, and like that 
animal emits an offensive odor when irritated or attacked. The face of the 
honey badger and all the lower parts of its body are black, while the upper 
parts and the back are gray. It is a skillful bee hunter, although it cannot 
climb. The bees that make their nests in the deserted burrows of ground 
animals fall easy victims to the ratel. 
The sand-badgers, or, as they are often termed, hog-badgers, are easily 
distinguished from the other members of the group by their longer tails; that 
of the Indian species being from a quarter to a third the length of the head and 
body. The long and naked snout is very like that of the Malayan badger; the 
eyes are small, and the ears also small and rounded. The body is rather 
flattened from side to side; and only a portion of the naked soles of the feet 
