166 The Mammalia of Essex ; a Contrihution towards a 



is of the same reddish browu tmt as the upper surface of the 

 body. An additional distinction is found in the usually 

 smaller size of the weasel, a character, however, which is 

 not invariable, as I have seen weasels quite the average stoat 

 size, and full-grown stoats as small as undersized weasels. 

 This is another of the so-called " vermin," and the weasel is 

 destroyed whenever met with, — a great mistake, in my 

 opinion, as its prey consists principally of the smaller 

 mammals. Its food is not, however, confined to these, as I 

 have found beetles, lizards, slow-worms, and other small fry 

 in the stomachs of those I have examined. I believe it is 

 very rare for the weasel to interfere much with game ; and 

 even if it did much damage in this respect, it could never 

 cause half the jealousies, quarrels, and miseries produced by 

 the excessive preservation of game. In some parts of England 

 it is, when small, called a " mouse-hunter," and well it 

 deserves this name. When chasing a mouse it keeps to the 

 scent as well as the best fox-hound, and seems quite regard- 

 less of onlookers. I have said " keeps to the scent ; " perhaps 

 I ought to have said it never passes over the scent, even 

 when in full gallop. The manner of its chasing a mouse, in 

 all cases that I have observed, is by making casts diagonally 

 across the mouse's track ; and this plan of hunting, I have an 

 idea, is not confined to the weasel. In spite of persecution 

 this little animal is common in all parts of Essex, on the 

 marshes especially so ; and there I have found evidences in 

 casts that it is not unfi-equently eaten by herons. 



MusTELA Erminea. The Stoat. — This bloodthirsty, active, 

 and destructive member of a specially bloodthirsty family, 

 is very common throughout Essex, persecution on aU sides 

 appearing to have little infl.uence on its numbers. Its food and 

 habits are similar to those of the weasel, but I fear I cannot 

 defend it from the charge of being very destructive to game. 

 Although mice and such small creatures contribute to its 



o 



sustenance, still I think the larger mammals, as hares, 

 rabbits, and rats, are its favourite prey, which it chases by 

 scent, as most who have lived in the country will have had 

 opportunities for observing. Hares and rabbits, after being 



