77 



COLLECTANEA. 



Art. I. Zoology. 



Hares talcing the Water. — Sir, Some of your correspondents geem to 

 doubt if hares ever take the water voluntarily. I can affirm that I have 

 frequently seen them do so when I have been fishing. Two years ago, 

 whilst standing on the banks of the Ure, in Wensleydale, I remember seeing 

 a hare come to just opposite me, and sit for five minutes, looking across 

 the river : at length he quietly sprang into the water, and swam towards 

 me. I remained motionless, and he came out not five yards from me, and 

 cantered off to the other end of a large field, where he joined another hare 

 (I suspect a female). They there gamboled together for above half an 

 hour. He then returned, took the water again about fifty yards fi-om me, 

 and landed on the other side. On this occasion, I am convinced the all- 

 powerful passion of love was the motive which induced the hare to take 

 the water ; and, as on other occasions I could never discover any symptoms 

 of fear, I conclude that has generally been the occasion of their doing so. 

 The hares I have seen swim high out of the water, and boldly, as if accus- 

 tomed to it. Yours, &c. — Thomas Thompson, Hully Aug. 4. 183L' 



Some Account of the Stoat. — The stoat (ikfustela erminea) has much 

 the same habits as the weasel ; and, though more timid, is equally mis- 

 chievous among poultry and their eggs. It is more abundant than the 

 weasel, probably in consequence of its not being able to enter the holes of 

 the reptiles by which it is killed. The stoat does not change its colour 

 here, as in the northern parts of the world, by which its fur becomes so 

 valuable an article of commerce, though it has been observed that its 

 breast and throat are whiter in winter than in the summer months. — J, M. 

 Jan. 23. 1831. 



As a balancing good to the evil of the stoat's destroying poultry, &c., it 

 appears also to destroy the water rat. See Vol. III. p. 145. — J. D. 



Some Account of the Weasel. — Jan. 23. The foot-marks of the weasel 

 (jliiistela vulgaris) are now visible on the snow by hedge sides. It lives in 

 holes (usually made at first by the mole) under the roots of trees and 

 hedges, and preys on mice, small birds, &c., and consequently destroys or 

 drives from the neighbourhood of its residence all of these tribes within its 

 reach : of course it must prowl about by night for supplies. It is a bold 

 audacious little animal, and often commits depredations on the chicklings 

 of the poultry-yard. This makes the farmer its enemy, though it is some- 

 times his friend, when it happens to choose a corn-rick for its domicile, as 

 it drives thence all other vermin. For the sake of the poultry, however, 

 its haunts should be known, and there is no readier way than tracing it 

 home in the snow. At daylight on mornings weasels may be seen hurry- 

 ing home with a mouse or bird in their mouth ; and if intercepted, will 

 retire into a hedge, lay down their load, return and peep out, till they think 

 they can proceed in safety. Their young often fall a prey to the viper 

 (Coluber jBerus), when they meet in their holes. Cats kill the weasel, but 



