FIN AND FUR ON SURREY HILLS. 97 



dashed down into the open meadow adjoining the 

 wood. 



" What in the name o' wonder be it ? " asked the 

 man. 



" A badger, and a fine fellow too." 



"Will he du any mischief to the crap in the 

 garden ? " 



" Not he," I replied. 



"Then I shan't meddle with un. I likes to see 

 un cut his capers. Now what do he live on ? " 



" Mice, beetles, snails, and wasps' nests that he 

 digs out." 



" What wapses ! he's a good un. Cuss them 

 things ! they du work my fruit. Anything else do 

 he eat?" 



"Yes, mushrooms." 



" Do he ? he wunt hev 'em all, then, ef he stops 

 here till they cums out." 



" He will kill and eat hedgehogs too." 



"Then he's a right good un. I shan't meddle 

 with he." 



For reasons of my own I did not tell our friend 

 that the creature would also eat rabbits. I knew 

 the man had the privilege of catching all that visited 

 G 



