seems to be no other reason for considering it as a beast of prey, than the analogy between its teeth, and those of carnivorous animals.

Few creatures defend themselves better, or bite with greater keenness than the badger; on that account it is frequently baited with dogs trained for that purpose, and defends itself from their attacks with astonishing agility and success. Its motions are so quick, that a dog is often desperately wounded in the moment of assault, and obliged to fly. The thickness of the badger's skin, and the length and coarseness of its hair, are an excellent defence against the bites of the dogs its skin is so loose as to resist the impression of their teeth, and gives the animal an opportunity of turning itself round, and wounding its adversaries in their tenderest parts. In this manner this singular creature is able to resist repeated attacks both of men and dogs, from all quarters; till, being overpowered with numbers, and enfeebled by many desperate wounds, it is at last obliged to yield.

In hunting the badger, you must seek the earths and burrows where he lies; and, in a clear moonlight night, go and stop all the burrows except one or two, and therein place some sacks, fastened with drawing strings, which may shut him in as soon as he strains the bag. Some only place a hoop in the mouth of the sack, and so put it into the hole; and as soon as the badger is in the sack, and strains it, the sack slips

*

from the hoop, and secures him in it, where tre lies trembling till he is taken from his prison.

The sacks, or bags, being thus set, cast off the hounds, beating about all the woods, hedges, and tufts, round about for the compass of a mile or two; and what badgers are abroad, being alarmed by the hounds, will soon betake themselves to their burrows. Observe, that the person who is placed to watch the sacks, must stand close, and upon a clear wind; otherwise the badger will discover him, and immediately fly some other way into his burrow.

But if the dogs can encounter him before he can take his sanctuary, he will then stand at bay like the boar, and make good sport, vigourously biting and clawing the dogs. In general when they fight, they lay on their backs, using both teeth and nails; and, by blowing up their skins defend themselves against the bites of the dogs, and the blows given by the men. When the badger finds that the terriers yearn* him in his burrow, he will stop the hole betwixt him and the terriers; and, if they still continue baying, he will remove his couch into another chamber or part of the burrow, and so from one to another barricading the way before them, as he retreats, till he can go no farther.

If you intend to dig the badger out of his burrow, you must be provided with such tools as are used for digging out a fox: you should

*To yearn, is to bark as beagles do at their prey.

also have a pail of water to refresh the terriers when they come out of the earth to take breath and cool themselves.

It is no unusual thing to put some small bells about the necks of the terriers which making a noise, will cause the badger to bolt out.

In digging, the situation of the ground must be observed and considered; or, instead of advancing the work, you probably may hinder it.

In this order you may besiege them in their holds, or castles, and break their platforms, parapets, and casements; and work to them with mines and countermines, till you have overcome them.

We must do this animal the justice to observe, that, though nature has furnished it with formidable weapons of offence, and has besides given it strength sufficient to use them with great effect, it is, notwithstanding, very harmless and inoffensive, and, unless attacked, employs them only for its support.

The badger is an indolent animal, and sleeps much it confines itself to its hole during the whole day, and feeds only in the night. It is so cleanly as never to defile its habitation with its odure. Immediately below the tail between that and the anus, there is a narrow transverse orifice, from whence a white substance, of a fœtid smell, constantly exudes. The skin, when dressed with the hair on, is used for pistol furniture. Its flesh is eaten; the hind quarters are sometimes made

into hams, which, when cured, are not inferior in goodness to the best bacon. The hairs are

made into brushes, which are used by painters to soften and harmonize their shades.

In walking, the badger treads on his whole heel, like the bear, which brings its belly very near the ground.

A MAN ATTACKED BY WEASELS.

In the month of December, 1817, in the parish of Glencairn, a labourer was suddenly attacked by six weasels, which rushed upon him from an old dyke, in the field where he was at work. The man, alarmed at such a furious onset from an unprovoked enemy, instantly betook himself to flight, in which, however he was closely pursued, and although he had about him a large horse-whip, with which he endeavoured by several back-handed strokes to stop them, yet so eager was their pursuit, that he was on the point of being seized by the throat, when he luckily noticed at some distance, the fallen branch of a tree, which he made for, and hastily snatching it up, commenced in turn the attack with so much success, that he killed three of them, and put the remaining three to flight. The man's life was in great danger, when it is ascertained that two weasels are a match for a dog.

COURAGE OF THE STAG.

By Capt. Smith.

It is worthy of remark that the native courage of the stag has often formed an interesting topic of inquiry; and the following Indian anecdote shows that when pressed by enemies, he possesses it in an eminent degree. As Captain Smith, of the Native Infantry, and some friends were on a shooting party, very early in the morning, they observed a tiger steal out of a jungle, in pursuit of a herd of deer; having selected his object, the poor animal was quickly deserted by the herd; the tiger advanced with such amazing swiftness, that the stag in vain attempted to escape, and at the moment the gentlemen expected to see the tiger take the fatal spring, the stag gallantly faced his enemy, and for some minutes kept him at bay, and it was not till after three attacks, that the tiger secured his prey. He was supposed to have been considerably injured by the horns of the stag, as, on the advance of Captain Smith, he abandoned the carcase of the stag, having only sucked the blood from the throat.

It is not more than fifty years ago that the following experiment was made by his Royal Highness the late Duke of Cumberland, to ascertain the true and natural instinctive courage of the stag, when opposed to an enemy of the most formidable and terrific description.

To effect this, one of the ablest stags in Wind