BADGER-HUNTING 239 



First : *' Oh — er — a badger is an animal 

 that lives in the water, something like a 

 seal." 



Second : " No, no ! That's an otter. 

 I know what an otter is. A badger is 

 more like a ferret or weasel." 



First: "Yes, I believe you're right, but 

 I fancy it's larger than that." 



Second: "How big would you say?" 



First : " Oh, I don't know exactly, but 

 nearly as big as a hare." 



Second : " Oh, of course ! They used 

 to bait badgers with dogs ; they must be 

 larger than a ferret." 



And so they went on, much to my amuse- 

 ment ; and when they had set up their 

 badger, I rather cruelly knocked it over, 

 and gave them a little elementary educa- 



