BADGERS.
(TO THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR2]
Sia,—Your interesting article on " Badger Ways " reminds me of an amusing incident which occurred about fifty years ago. Two of my brothers, when out for a Walk one day (we were schoolboys then, and I am afraid occasionally perhaps not as kind to animals, Jerae naturae, as we ought to have been) on the very Hidden Hill which you mention, and when passing through the hamlet of Harcombe (Chudleigh) they met a labourer with a sack thrown ovee his shoulder. He told them he had a badger in it, and they promptly bought it, sack and all, for half a crown, and took it home with them, meaning, as it was then late in the afternoon, to have some sport between it and some dogs next day. We at last got it shaken out of the sack—for it was very savage—into a large cask standing on end. In the corner of the garden was an empty barrel lying on its side which had once served as a dog-kennel, but no longer in use. The dog-chain and collar still lay there. By using some tongs to grip our friend by the nose and mouth, we got him safely housed for the night, and the collar so tightly fastened round the neck that we were almost afraid he might be throttled. On coming down next morning we found a large cavity dug out under the back door which led into the garden, the badger conspicuous by his absence, and the dog-collar lying on the ground.—I am, Sir, &c., W. Norm. Teignmouth.
[Well done, badger !—ED. Spectator.]
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