i62 BRITISH MAMMALS 



while the tail remained pale reddish-brown ; but in Northern 

 Europe, Northern Asia, and Canada the weasel often turns com- 

 pletely white in the winter, a reddish tint remaining in the tail. 



The weasel would seem to have two broods in the twelve 

 months. The breeding probably takes place first in January or 

 February, and the young are born, after about six weeks' gestation, 

 in April. Four is the average number of young in a litter ; 

 occasionally there are five, or even six. Another brood may 

 make .ts appearance in July. Cases of three broods in the year 

 are reported. No doubt the number of broods depends greatly 

 on the supply of food, and a vole plague is said to have coincided 

 with great prolificness on the part of weasels. There are three 

 pairs of mammae. The mother would seem to suckle her young 

 for a month with great assiduity. After this she begins foraging 

 for meat on their account while they remain snug and safe in the 

 nest, outside which they often come to play with one another. 

 When the next brood is near being born the mother turns the first 

 lot of young ones out of the nest, and they probably make a home 

 for themselves close by. Some keepers, however, state that the tiny 

 cubs of the summer brood are born and brought up in the same 

 nest with the spring litter. Young weasels are born blind, but 

 well covered with hair. To form a nest for their reception the 

 female weasel either scrapes out and lines with grass and leaves 

 a former home, or makes a fresh receptacle. She may also 

 establish her nest in a discarded rabbit burrow. As a rule the 

 nests are made in banks, and very often under the overhanging 

 roots of trees. The mother weasel is bold and desperate in the 

 defence of her young, and will fiercely attack dogs who are 

 attempting to tear out the nest. 



Weasels, old and young, are sportive, but the young are 

 more playful than kittens, and seem to be full of the joy of 

 living. The same characteristic may be observed in young 

 genets,^ perhaps the most exquisite little romps that could 

 be found, since they have what the weasel does not possess — 

 beautiful long tails and handsome spots. Nevertheless, the 

 ^ Genetta — allied to Civets. 



