A treasury of natural history; or, a popular dictionary of animated nature ... To which are added, a syllabus of practical taxidermy, etc / [Samuel Maunder].

Samuel Maunder

Date:: 1848

Credit: A treasury of natural history; or, a popular dictionary of animated nature ... To which are added, a syllabus of practical taxidermy, etc / [Samuel Maunder]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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$upper tusks across the lower branches of the trees, and, thus suspended, sleep in security. A\Tien hunted elosely, and in apparent dan- ger, this animal null, if possible, plunge into some great river, or the sea, where it snims with ^reat facility, and by alternate diring and rasing, is frequently able to escape from its piuamers. In the gardens of the Zoolo- gical Society a fine specimen of this rare animal may be (or was lately) seen. BACXJI.ITES. A species of Ammonite or Snake-stone. [See Ajlmonite.] BADGER. (J/efes vulgaris.) The Badger is a carnivorous quadrujari, inhabiting most parts of Europe and Asia 5 and is generally regarded as a solitary, stupid animal, that seeks refuge in the most sequestered places, HAtOEB.—(MELE3 VOLOABIS.) and shuns the light of day. It has very short legs and a broad flat body ; the head is long and pointed, the eyes small, the neek short and thick, the tail remarkably short, and the hide thick and tough. The upper parts of the body are covered with long coarse hair, the hue of which is a rusty grey ; but on the breast, belly, and limbs it is short and ! black : the face is white, and along each side of the head mns a long pyramidal band of black, including the eyes and ears. I With its powerful claws it constructs a deep and commodious burrow; and ns it continues to bury Itself, it throws the earth Ijchind it to a great distance, and thus forms for itself a long winding hole, ending in a round apartment at the bottom, wliich is ; well lined with dry gra-ss and hay. Tills retreat it seldom quits till night, when it steals from its subterraneous abode for the purpose of procuring food. It lives chiefly on roots, fruits, insects, and frogs ; but it also j robs the bee of his honey, and destroys the , egs of partridges and other birds wliich ' build their nests on the ground. It is quiet and inoffensive ; but when attacked by dogs it defends itself with neat resolution, and seldom dies unrevenged of his enemies. The Badger is about two feet si.x inches long : his skin is so thick that it resists the impression of the teeth, and so loose, that even when a dog has seized it, he is enabled to turn round easily, and severely bite his assailant. Tlie female prwliices three or four young at a time. The flesh of the Badger is reekoned » delicacy in Italy, France, and China, and may lie made into hams and bacon. Tlic skin, when dressed with the hair on, is im- pervious to the rain, and consequently makes excellent covers for travelling trunks, &c. ; and the hairs or bristles are made into brushes for painters. I The AMERICAN BADGER, or CAR- i CAJOU. (Meles Laln-aclorica.) This animal is rather smaller than the European species ; its fore-claws ore longer and stronger, and the black bands on the face narrower. Its pre- I vailing colour is a kind of mottled grey, and, ' witli the exception of the head and extre- mities, which are covered with short coarse hair, it is furnished with a fine, long, silky fur. It is a slow and timid animal, takes to the first earth it meets with wdien pur- sued, and, burro^ring in the sand, is soon out of the reach of danger. Whilst the ; ground is covered with snow the American j Badger seldom ventures from his hole, but I passes the severe winter months in a semi- torpid state. By some naturalists this is regarded as the type of a distinct genus (Taxidea). The INDDVN BADGER Ufydaus col- laris) is about twenty inches in height and two feet in length, the form of its body and limbs bearing a resemblance to the bear, while its head, eyes, and tail remind us of , the hog. The hair is a yellowish white, with black points, wliich gives the whole a dark brown shade ; but the legs and under parts of the body are black. The ears are ' very small; and on each side of the head are two black bands, which descend down j the neck, and enclose the tliroat. They are BO exceedingly fierce that dogs would quite as readily encounter the hyama or wolf. BADiENA. [See Whale.] BALANCE-FISII. (Zygmna.) A re- markable fish, the shape of wdiose monstrous head has been likened to a blacksmith’s | large hammer. Hence its name of 7/nnimcr- i headed Shai-k. It is a native of the Medi- terranean Sea. [See Zyo.ena.] BALANINIJS. A genus of Coleopterous insects, belonging to the family Curcu- liunidce, furnished with a long slender ros- trum, or snout, at the tip of which is a mi- nute pair of sharp horizontal jaws, and by means of wliich it is enabled to deposit its cgg.s, which are generally placed in the ker- nel of some fruit. Of this kind is the Bala- NUT WKCVlIi,—(nAr.ANINUS NUOUM )$