Part 5

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THE BADGER.

THE BADGER. ]

This animal is a native of Europe, but is known to live in warm countries. It is found, without any variety, in Spain, France, Italy, Germany, Britain, Poland, and Sweden. The usual length of the Badger is somewhat above two feet, and the tail is about six inches long; its eyes are small, and are placed in a black stripe which begins behind the ears, and runs towards the nose; the throat and legs are black; the back, sides, and tail, are of a dirty grey, mixed with black; the legs and feet are very short, strong, and thick; each foot has five toes; those on the fore feet are armed with strong claws, well adapted for digging.

Although furnished with powerful weapons of offence, and having besides strength to use them with great effect, it is very harmless and inoffensive; and unless attacked, employs them only for its support. The Badger retires to the most secret places, where it digs its hole, and forms its dwelling under ground. Its food consists chiefly of roots, fruits, grass, insects, and frogs. Few creatures defend themselves better, or bite with greater keenness, than the Badger. On that account it has been often baited with dogs trained for the purpose; but, happily, little is now heard of this very cruel sport. The Badger is a very sleepy animal. It keeps its hole during the day, and feeds only in the night.

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THE FOX.

THE FOX. ]

The Fox is a native of almost every quarter of the globe; and is of so wild and savage a nature that it is said to be impossible fully to tame him: when partially so, he is very playful; but will on the least offence, bite those with whom he is most familiar. He possesses more cunning than any other beast of prey. This quality he shows in his mode of providing for himself a place of security, where he retires from pressing dangers, and brings up his young; and his craftiness is also discovered by his schemes to catch lambs, geese, hens, and all kinds of small birds.

When he can conveniently do so, the Fox fixes his abode on the border of a wood, in the neighbourhood of some farm or village. He listens to the crowing of the cocks, or the cries of the poultry. He scents them at a distance; he chooses his time with judgment; and conceals his road, as well as his design. He slips forward with caution, sometimes even trailing his body; and seldom misses his booty. If he can leap the wall, or creep in beneath the gate, he ravages the court-yard, puts all to death, and retires with his prey. He hunts the young hares in the plains; and seizes the old ones in their seats. The eye of the Fox is of a lively hazel colour, and very expressive.

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THE WOLF.

These animals are natives of almost all the temperate and cold countries of the globe; and were formerly so numerous in this island, that King Edgar, about a thousand years ago, changed the punishments for some offences, into a demand of a certain number of Wolves’ tongues from each criminal; and once converted a heavy and oppressive tax on one of the Welsh princes, into a yearly tribute of three hundred Wolves’ heads. Some hundred years after, these animals increased to such a degree, that great rewards were given for destroying them.

THE WOLF. ]

The Wolf is very savage indeed when it is hungry. It then braves every danger, and even attacks those animals that are protected by man. Man himself, upon these occasions, frequently falls a victim to its power; and it is said, that when Wolves have once tasted human blood, they always give it the preference. The Wolf has great strength, especially in the muscles of his neck and jaw: he can carry a sheep in his mouth, and easily run off with it in that manner. His bite is cruel and deadly, and keener as it meets with no opposition: but when opposed, he is cautious and careful, and seldom fights but from necessity. Sometimes whole droves of them join in the cruel work of destruction.

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THE SHEPHERD’S DOG.

THE SHEPHERD’S DOG. ]

This useful animal, ever faithful to his charge, reigns at the head of the flock, where he is better heard, and more attended to, than even the Shepherd himself. In the few remaining large tracts of land which are appropriated to the feeding of Sheep, this dog is of the utmost importance. Large flocks range over extensive tracts of land, seemingly without controul: their only guide being the Shepherd, attended by his Dog, the constant companion of his toil. It receives his commands, and is always prompt to execute them; it is the watchful guardian of the flock, prevents straying, keeps them together, and conducts them from one pasture to another: it will not suffer strange sheep to mix with them, but carefully keeps off every intruder. In driving a number of sheep to any distant part, a well-trained Dog never fails to confine them to the road; he watches every avenue that leads from it, where he takes his stand, to prevent them from going out of the way. He pursues the stragglers if any escape, and forces them into order, without doing them the least injury. If the Shepherd be at any time absent he depends upon his Dog to keep them together; and as soon as he gives the well-known signal, this faithful creature conducts them to his master, though at a great distance.

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THE BULLDOG.

THE BULLDOG. ]

When little children meet any dogs they should take care not to tease them, more particularly the Bulldog, for when that dog is completely roused it is the fiercest of its kind, and is probably the most courageous creature in the world. It is low in stature, but very strong. Its nose is short; and the under jaw projects beyond the upper, which makes it look very fierce. Its courage in attacking the bull is well known; its fury in seizing and its obstinacy in keeping its hold, are truly astonishing. It always aims at the front, and generally fastens upon the lip, the tongue, the eye, or some part of the face; where it hangs in spite of every effort of the bull to get away from it.

Many stories are told us of this most cruel sport; but of late years the inhuman custom of baiting the bull has been almost entirely laid aside, and there are now few Dogs of this kind to be seen. The great danger of the Bulldog is, he always makes his attack without barking.

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THE NEWFOUNDLAND DOG.

This breed of Dogs was originally brought from the country of which they bear the name, where their great strength and sagacity render them extremely useful to the settlers on those coasts, who use them in bringing down wood from the forests to the sea side. Three or four of them yoked to a sledge, will draw two or three hundred weight of wood piled upon it, for several miles, with great ease: they are not attended by a driver, nor any person to guide them; but after having delivered their loading, they return immediately to the woods, where they are accustomed to be fed.

THE NEWFOUNDLAND DOG. ]