Badger, an nnimal resembling in its external characters, both a dog and a hog: it is now seldom met with in England, though formerly it afforded great sport. The unequal length of its legs has introduced the expression badger-legged. Its flesh has a taste similar to that of wild hogs, and is much esteemed in Italy, France, and Germany. Indeed, these carnivorous quadrupeds are v themselves so very fond of pork, that a piece of such meat, placed over their burrow, is the surest inducement to their appetite, and will in a few minutes entice them above ground.

Besides affording a nutritive, but not easily digestible food, the skin of the badger makes excellent knapsacks, and covers for travelling-trunks, saddles, etc. because it is impervious to rain, and stands in need of no additional preparation for rendering it water-proof; a process we shall describe under the article Leather. The hairs or bristles of this animal are used for painters' brushes ; and its penetrating fat answers a variety of - useful purposes : for it is not only employed as an ingredient in injections for relieving nephritic complaints, or such as arise from obstructions in the urinary passages, but likewise externally, in rheumatic affe&ions, especially those called Sciatica, and for the cure of sore and chapped nipples in young mothers. For paralytic dieases of the aged, it is asserted, that the hairy ikin of this creature, when worn next the surface of the body, has been of eminent service, by stimulating the inert, cutaneous/and muscular vessels into action: and there can be no reasonable objection against giving this simple remedy a fan trial for a few weeks, where medicines generally are ineffectual.

The crafty horse-dealers also employ the badger's fat in a singular manner, which involves a degree of fraud and cruelty. They pull out the hair in several places, and anoint the bare spots with this fat; when the hair grows again, it is of a white or grey colour, so as to give the horse a pyebald appearance, which probably inhances its value.