186 



A COUNTRY READER. 



pointed at its tip. Length of body 28 to 32 

 inches ; tail 14 to 16 inches. Skin smooth- 

 haired, showing dark brown above and l>elow. 

 Found on the banks of lakes, pools, rivers, brooks, 

 where fish is plentiful. It catches water rats, 

 ducks, geese, as well as their young, wild water 

 birds, frogs, fish, cray fish, water insects. It is 

 specially destructive of fish. 



THE BADGER. 



Badger. Body heavy ; legs short ; toes with 

 strong digging claws ; snout pointed. Length 

 of body, 3 feet; weight, 22 to 23 Ibs. The burrow 

 is very large ; several passages, the openings of 

 which may be 97 feet apart, lead to the exterior 

 from which the animal comes into the open. 



The badger only leaves its dwelling in the 

 evening. It eats mice, birds which nest on the 

 ground, especially their eggs and young, snakes, 



