The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-06-19
THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE WASHINGTON g. THURSDAY JUNE 49, 1890

rie dogs, rats, mice, insects snails, birds eggs
an occasional rabbit, and the honey, wax and
grubs OF bees is procured almost wholly
through the remarkable excavating powers.
The form is strictly terrestrial, and they can
neither climb nor swim but badger, using his
hind feet to cut away the soil, and his fore
paws TO throw il aside, digs so rapidly that he
seems actually to sink into the earth before the
Observers eyes. Their regular burrows are not
all inhabited, for besides being possessed with
passion for digging, which induces them lin
captivity at lcast) to make useless excavations,
their food is secured by enlarging the aperture
OF the tunnels of other animals such rs prairie
dogs, from which latter the badgers hole only
differs in its larger size and in the fact that it
invariably has a circular buttress or embank-
ment around the entrance. Within its un-
derground retreat this animal is quite capable
of making successful resistance to either the
fox or coyote.
Although excessively wary and shy these
creatures are only timid in the sense that they
avoid danger of any kind, and are fierce and
formidable in self-delense alone When brought
to bay they will fight desperately, and as
their tenacity of life is great, their strength
considerable, aud their means of oneuse by no
means Gontemptblo it has not unfrequontly
happened that uuarmed men seeking to capture
them have met with signal discontinue.
To the trapper a badger appears in the char
acter of an animal whose cunning and fore
sight are scarcely exceeded by those displayed
by the fox and wolverine. An uncovered trap,
says Gibson, only provokes ga look of con-
tempt. and even when it is set with all the
precautions necdful for securing Reynard him
sell, tho machine is frequently unearthed,
overturned, sprung, and the bait taken without
injury to the robber. The reproductive process
among badgers is little known, and no accurate
information concerning their period of gesta-
tlon or lactation is obtainable. AZ home that
ancient, peaceable and respectable animal, rs
ST. John calls the British representative OF
MeiinR. is
Is REMARKABLE FOR ITS CLEANLINESS,
and the burrows, "strategeticaly conducted
under roots and around rocks. y give it
every advantage over the dog" IL is not record
cd, so far as the writer is aware, that here these
creatures dig pits for the reception Of all
offensive filth" but as in the Scotch Highlands
their dwellings upon the Western plains are
commonly free from impurities both within
and without.
Without, perhaps, being gregarious in
strict acCcptaton Of that term, badgers live in
colonies, aud although not migratory, they
are certainly nomadic, shifting their quarters
whenever the supply of game runs short.
Audubon aud Bachman have recorded the
most elaborate observations Of Taxdea in n
state Of captivity. The young one domiciled
with these naturalists upon the Upper Missouri
bad To be banishcd from their apartment on
account OF its dcHtructivCnCSs. IL broke all
fragile articles, tore to pieces whatever could
be torn, and uprooted the hearth stones in or
der to dig beneath them. Raw meat was the
food IL preferred, but in this and other in
stances bread was not rejected The various
Cnptives studied were rather dull aud sleepy
during daylight, lying Curled up in ball, but
Mt night became playful aud alert. When Gagged
they never hybernated, even in the severest
weather. II approached by strangers their
coats bristlcd, considerably increasing tho ap-
parent size and n continual growing was kept
up. In Audubou's opinion the disposition is
suspicious and the temper uncertain, although
he observed indications OF attachment TO and
confidence in their constant attendants Placed
in a wooden barred cage they gnawed their way
out and whenever IL was possible to make holes
these indeiatigable diggers made not one but
as many rs time and space permitted During
Winter the badgers coat becomes furry, and
the pcit is then valuable, while their longer
hairs are extensively used in the manufacture
OF shaving brushes Ia state Of nature this
animal, when surprised ut a distance from its
own or some other hole erouchcs in order TO
conceal itself. aud ts flatteued body, short
limbs and neutral tinted skin usually make
the device egrctuai. since It's colors assimlate
with those Of surrounding objects. Their flesh
IS often eaten by Indians, but the glands that
belong TO most Musteidt generally render
this kind of meat juedble by anyone more
iastidious than a savage.
To be e5afi8urd1