Want to know:

DE SO 1The BadgerThe Badger's legs are so short, that its belly seems to touch the ground ; this, HOWEVER, is but a deceitful appearance, as it is (8) _______ by the length of the hair, which is very long all over the body, and makes it seem much more bulky than it really is. It is a solitary, stupid animal that finds refuge remote (9) _______man, and digs itself a deep hole with great assiduity. It seems to avoid the light, and seldom quits its retreat by day, only stealing (10) _______ at night to find subsistence. It burrows in the ground very easily, its legs being short and strong, and its claws stiff and horny. As it continues to bury (11) _______, it throws the earth behind it, to a great distance, and thus forms to itself a winding hole, at the bottom (12) _______which it remains in safety. Asthe fox is not so expert at digging into the earth, it often (13) _______ possession of that which has been quitted by the badger, and some say, forces it from its retreat, by laying its excrements (14) _______ the mouth of the badger's hole. This animal, however, is not long in making itself a new habitation, from which it seldom ventures far, as it flicks but slowly, and can find safety only in the strength of its retreat. When it is surprised by the dogs at some distance from its hole, it then combats (15) _______ desperate resolution; it falls upon its back, defends itself on every side, and seldom dies unrevenged in the midst of its enemies.

Get a detailed, AI-powered explanation for this question and thousands more on StudyFetch.