Country Life
A LONDON BADGER.
A while ago, some parade was made in the papers about a badger hunt at Rochampton. What happened was that a litter was bred in the garden of a Convent there and it was found, doubtless to the gardeners' regret, that there was not scope enough for the animals' various activities. They were therefore caught up and transported. Not a badger, young or old, was left. It was surprising enough that so shy, and in many places rare, an animal as the badger should delight to live in so populous a place and within a few yards of a popular road and omnibus route. It is more surprising that the badgers have reappeared, and have refused to be evicted. One, at any rate, has been seen this month in Rochampton Lane ; and doubtless will bring a mate. We cannot but hope it will be welcomed. They are animals with a strong territorial bent, as was proved by the persistence of the badgers on Hampstead Heath, thought to be their last London stronghold. Nothing will keep a badger from his home earth. I have a vivid remembrance of trying to stop one returning to the pit from which he had been expelled. He took no more notice of shouts, a stick and an intervening form than if the wind was blowing a bramble bush. Our naturalists talk about " tropism " in animals. Here was a turning home at least as obstinate and inveterate as the blindest reflex action of an insect ; but it was more than either tropism or instinct. It was love of home.
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