On a warm summer evening, if you go to some quiet spot where no one passes, and there are lots of trees, you may see a Badger, whose beautiful black and white coat glides in and out among the grass like a will-o'-the-wisp. Although harmless and good-natured, the badger is a great fighter when aroused. In olden times it used to be matched against several dogs at once, and often gave a good account of itself. It has short, stubby legs and a dog- like snout. Its teeth are very strong and sharp. A badger mother rears her young in a burrow, generally among the roots of trees. This is dug out by the male badger, and serves for a living-place and store-house. When the badger is busy burrowing you can come quite close to it, for it is so intent upon its work that it does not notice anything around it. Many people imagine that the badger is stupid, but in reality it is very clever, and anyone who has attempted to trap one will agree in this. It is easily tamed, and becomes quite affectionate. The badger is not as rare as many people think. Its habits are quiet, and it moves along so stealthily that you might be within a few yards of one and not know it. It is more often betrayed by its strong smell than by any sound it will make.
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| The badger has a beautiful black and white coat. |
