WEASEL. — Mustela vulgaris. 



There is hardly any animal which, for its size, is so much to be dreaded bj' 

 the creatures on which it preys as the common Weasel. Although its diminutive 

 proportions render a single Weasel an insignificant opponent to man or dog, yet 

 it can wage a sharp battle even with such fearful foes, and refuses to yield except 

 at the last extremity. 



Like the polecat, and others of the same group of animals, the Weasel is most 

 destructive in its nature, killing, many more animals than it can devom', simply 

 for the mere pleasure of killing. A single Weasel, m^ged by some such destruc- 

 tive spirit, has been known to make its way into a cage full of freshly-caught 

 song-birds, and to destroy every single bird. The little assassin was discovered 

 lying quite at its ease in a corner of the cage, surrounded with the dead bodies 

 of its victims. The angry bird-catchers sought at once for a stone wherewith 

 to avenge themselves of the destroyer, but before they could procure a weapon, 

 tKe Weasel ghded through one of the little holes through which the birds 

 obtain access to the water, and was speedily concealed in a hedge beyond hope 

 of discovery. 



The audacity of this little creature is really remarkable. It seems to hold 

 every being except itself in the most sovereign contempt, and, to all appearance, 

 is as ready to match itself against a man as against a mouse. Lideed, it carries 

 its arrogant little pretensions so far, that, if elephants were inhabitants of this 

 country, the Weasel would be quite willing to dispute the path with them. 



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