1910] The Ottawa Naturalist. 59 



NATURE STUDY. 



Note. The following article has been prepared for the 

 Naturalist by Mr. S. E. Percival, a student at the Ottawa 

 Normal School. It is a straightforward statement of what he 

 himself saw, and as such will commend itself to every naturalist 

 and reader of this magazine. J. W. G. 



A Weasel's Home. 



Not long ago the opportunity was afforded me of disco\'er- 

 ing some very interesting facts concerning the life habits of our 

 rather doubtful friend, the weasel.- For the benefit of those 

 who are not already well acquainted with this crafty little animal 

 I shall narrate a few incidents as they were brought to iny notice. 



On one occasion as we were reinoving the sheaves from a 

 large mow at a threshing bee, near the village of Burrit's Rapids, 

 we were struck b^' the frequent appearance of a weasel at widelv 

 dift'erent points al^out the barn. The little creature seemed 

 greatly distressed and agitated. The men regarded it with a 

 certain amount of interest and amusement, wondering what in 

 their work was causing the little animal so much of apparent 

 worr\- and excitement. In a very short time, however, the 

 problem was solved. About half way down in the mow the men 

 opened up some peculiar but luxurious apartments which had 

 evidentlv been the home of the uneasy weasel. The home was 

 lined throughout with the soft fur of mice. The floor had an 

 extra thick covering and in the centre, evidently to take the place 

 of the modern rug, was neatly spread the skin of our pet kitten 

 wdiich had mvsteriouslv disappeared some days before. This 

 room appeared to be the main living rooin and was about the 

 size of an ordinarv water pail. 



From this room a winding passage led into another room 

 which presented a rather ghastly appearance, being strewn with 

 the bodies of dead mice, bones, fur, etc. From this commissariat 

 apartment, as well as from the living room, passages and cross 

 passages extended in all directions horizontally forming quite a 

 perfect system of highways. 



The following incidents came under the notice of a friend 

 of mine who reported to me all the details as he saw^ them : 



One day while returning from the fields through a lane he 

 heard, before him, a most distressed and dismal squealing. 

 Approaching cautiously he observed two adult weasels each lead- 

 ing by force one of their incorrigible offspring, while two others 

 caine quietly along in the rear. There was evidently some cause 

 for a sudden change of quarters. He was unable to watch them 

 long enough to determine their destination, but ktiowing as we 



