Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1911-03-31

really quite pleullIul, LnOuSn pernape
not so much SO as in bygone times;
that is to say, II the tales one hears
are to be trusted. Perhaps a better
indication is that there are places
named Brock holes and similar names
where no badgers are found today.
Yellow or sable badgers with pink
eyes have occurred in this part, and
some years ago an old female thus
colored, together with her two babies.
came into my possession. The young
ones were the ordinary gray and
white, but charming little creatures,
utterly unlike their savage mother,
who sulkily resented captivity. As
soon as they were weaned they were
given bread and milk to eat; occasion
ally bits of dog biscuit and other
scraps were added. In the end we
parted with them, as the higher au-
thorities" thought they were not safe
pets. They may not have been; but
tried their temper in every way, Ia
king the two for walks dragged along
by a collar and chain, and carried
them about, one under each arm, that
is to say, until they got too big and
heavy, but they never seemed to mind.
Another pet badger was half grown
when 1 acquired it; the poor thing
had been caught In trap, and its leg
was rather badly hurt. A keeper
brought it to me, knowing that l was
always willing to give home to any
lofr "a Il 4 al rol1
Il have never had any animal that
could eat so much-and did the best ]
could for It. Grumbles, for so It was
christened, had to pose before the
camera; but many hours were spent
and many plates wasted before / OBJ
tanned any characteristic pictures. for
the badger took no interest in the art
of photography. 1t was not like my
tame owl, Old Hooter, who, at the
sight Of the camera, will fly to 1t and
dance a Jig on the bellows. In the
end the badger was released, / let 1t
go one evening in the woods. It trot-
/ ted of in a deliberate way, and
thought should never see him again;
but about three months later some
neighbors complained of the mysteri-
ous way their bulbs planted In the
turf were being scratched up and eat
en-. II appeared they were planting
large number Of crocuses in their
garden. which was done by removing.
with a patent instrument. a sod Of
grass in shape Ike a cork, dropping
in bulb and replacing the stopper"
The next morning every cork had
been drawn" and all the bulbs had
disappeared. A badger was eventual
ly blamed and the culprit located In
dry drain It was dug out, put IN q
sack and sent on to me. l gladly gave
1t home and had II turned into q
kennel. Two days later the owner
of the crocuses came up to see the
badger. A man went into the place
and brought brock" out by his tail
this is the only part Of its body you
can hold badger by-then saw the
bad leg, healed now, that my poor
Grumbles had suffered from. II was
Grumbles home againi / shall have
to keep him now. Ny hope is that By
and by i shall be able to obtain q
mate for him.
One of the most mysterious and
alarming sounds know is the cry Of
a badger heard In the stiffness Of the
night. have only heard It once. and
then l am sure It was a mother and
cubs, for 1t instantly recalled the
cries of tbs two captive ones, whose
ordinary noises were Of the grunting
description. but who could. on occa-
sion, cry like a baby. AS said be-
fore, the badgers Of my acquaintance
confined their conversation" mainly
to a sort of grumbling grunt which
sometimes, when annoyed, they turned
into loud snort Of anger.
FRANCIS PITT.
London, England.
A club is a place where q man gets