The Weasel 



works its way, leaping now and again in evident enjoy- 

 ment of the hunt. It is said the animal owns an innate 

 influence over the victim it pursues, and that once 

 a Weasel starts upon the trail of its quarry it is certain 

 to gain its object. This may be true to a certain 

 extent, but, nevertheless, Weasels often misjudge their 

 powers, and often fail to secure their coveted victims. 



In the fall of the year these animals frequently lodge 

 about open meadows, and make their raids from the 

 deserted burrow formed by some other animal. In the 

 heat of the autumn sun they may then be seen 

 hunting mice and voles. These they capture by simple 

 cunning. The chirping of a mouse strikes the ear of 

 the Weasel, and its lithe form glides round the grassy 

 tuft and stays awhile ; the little brown back moves 

 forward as if propelled by some unseen force, and a 

 soft note is merely uttered as the little hunter carries 

 the dying mouse to its temporary home. 



When winter approaches. Weasels sometimes settle 

 about outhouses and rickyards, where they hunt for 

 mice, but, generally speaking, these wild creatures 

 prefer to be quite apart from human habitations. In 

 the more open country the presence of a Weasel 

 generally denotes others of its kind being in the 

 vicinity. About buildings — such as those named — a 

 single Weasel will remain for weeks if undisturbed, 

 and hunt constantly. 



Although by nature both cunning and alert. Weasels 

 are by no means difficult to capture. I remember while 



27 



