BADGER DIGGING [To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR.]
Sin,—Your correspondent, Mr. J. L. Hammond, gives an interesting account of a conversation 40 years ago with Lord Hobhouse—then a very old man—who told him that in hjs early days the hunting of stray dogs and cats was a favourite amusement of the London streets.
We may be thankful that such a form of " sport " would be impossible now, but that we have not yet succeeded in civilising an equally barbarous'and almost equally, inexpensive one is proved by an account I have just seen in a local paper under the head of .".Badger Digging," describing the inaugural meeting of a club for this purpose, at which a President was nominated, a vice-president, treasurer and secretary elected, with a committee of eight, the annual subscription being fixed at 5s.
I believe a Bill was passed in 3835, making it illegal to " bait or worry any 'bear, hull, dog, or other animal," and if this is the case, it is difficult to understand how this certainly cheap but extremely brutal form of sport can be tolerated, or how the R.S.P.C.A. permits it to go unchallenged.—I an), Sir,
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