Page:Charles Catton, Animals (1788).pdf/57



Badger, though a native of England, is an animal not very well known; the hynes of his temper, and trong propenity to leep, which oftens the call of appetite, makes his appearance in earch of prey les neceary and frequent; the night alo is the eaon for his earch; when, whether vegetable productions are atisfactory, is not certain. The depredations in rabbit-warrens, and on young lambs, are frequently laid to the charge of the Badger; on the other hand, the Badger has little or no peed, and being much inclined to leep, will certainly grow fat on les nourihment than more active quadrupeds.

The Badger digs a habitation in the earth with coniderable dexterity; the fore paws being armed with long and trong nails, which work with great expedition: the paage is of a winding form, leading to everal apartments, but only one entrance; a bed of oft hay and gras is provided to induce leep, and ecure a comfortable repoe. This habitation is o enviable, that the Fox, whoe abilities for burrowing in the ground are inferior to the Badger’s, frequently ejects the lawful tenant by laying his fœtid excrement at the mouth of the hole; the Badger being o cleanly an animal, that the calls of Nature are never obeyed within the apartment.

The female brings three or four cubs in ummer, which are uckled for ome time, and afterwards are provided with uch food as her abilities or indutry can procure. Badgers are frequently eaten, and are aid to make good bacon.

The hair of the Badger is very long, coare and rough, which gives it a very uncouth and clumy appearance, and diguies the true hape of the limbs; each hair is tinged with three different colours; the roots a dirty white, the middle black, the extremity ah colour or grey, which has produced the well-known aying, "as grey as a Badger." The chet and belly are very dark, nearly black; a tripe of the ame alo extends from the eye to the ear.

The Badger is common to mot northern countries, and are found in ome warmer ones: the Chinee are very fond of their fleh, which is often an article in their butchers hops; are hunted by night for the ake of the kin; when attacked by the dogs, defend themelves with great courage, and bite very everely; are about two feet and a half long, tail about nine inches; have mall eyes, and hort round ears.