The Weasel 



Dogs don't care to " mouth " Weasels, owing to the 

 obnoxious smell they can give ofF when irritated. I 

 was crossing a moor one day accompanied by a collie 

 and a terrier, when a Weasel crossed the roadway, 

 followed by seven young ones. A hunt ensued, but 

 neither of the dogs would kill any of the vermin. The 

 Weasels rushed hither and thither about my feet in 

 sheer fright, until old and young got under cover, and 

 the hunt proved one of the most unsuccessful I ever 

 participated in. The same evening I came across a 

 Weasel dragging a bird along the turnpike. As I 

 approached, it left its quarry and darted into the bank. 

 From sheer curiosity 1 sat down to see how it would 

 act. After a little time it reappeared, and made direct 

 for the carcass. It did not tackle its burden in a very 

 masterly or leisurely fashion. It leapt like a tiger on 

 its prey and shook it again and again, then pulled with 

 all its strength. Once it had the body under way it 

 made good progress, and on reaching the bank it went 

 off as if it had given up the task entirely. I had 

 surmised it had gone for assistance, but in this I was 

 wrong, for in a little while it reappeared and darted at 

 the carcass much in the same fashion it had formerly 

 done. Then by energetic tugs It pulled the carcass 

 into the hole, and the little drama was complete. 



In length the male is about 8 inches, with a tail of 

 2^ inches. The female rarely reaches within an inch of 

 her mate. Weasels make a nest of dead leaves, grasses, 

 moss, or similar material, and the domicile is usually 



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