170 Stoats and Weasels. [Sess. 



sary, three weasels requiring one pigeon per day. It is thus 

 easy to see that considerable expenditure would be incurred. 

 There are, besides, the purchasing of the pigeons ; the quantity 

 of corn required to feed them ; the freight of them on board 

 the ship, and a man to attend to them. 



Though both stoats and weasels are largely endowed with 

 curiosity, the latter is much less shy than the former. I 

 have frequently observed their footprints in snow round a box 

 trap, and though they would run round it a good many times, 

 in most cases weasels ventured in and were secured. It is 

 otherwise with stoats. Known from their larger footprints 

 and longer strides, they would also run round the trap, which 

 they evidently regarded as dangerous, as in most cases they 

 did mt venture in. The stoat, although a comparatively small 

 animal, is in the habit of travelling very considerable distances, 

 and will settle down at a spot several miles away from his 

 former dwelling-place. In such cases the first indication of 

 his presence is some unlooked-for depredation which attracts 

 the attention of the keeper. So recently as last year I was 

 spending a few days shooting in a district in Forfarshire, from 

 which stoats had been carefully excluded. One morning the 

 keeper called my attention to an exceptionally large stoat 

 which he, without hesitation, affirmed must have travelled 

 several miles. Upon interrogation, he satisfied me as to the 

 correctness of his surmise, for had it been otherwise he must 

 have had previous indications of the animal's presence. 

 Having my gun in hand, I stood waiting his coming out from 

 a heap of stones, where unperceived he appeared to be amusing 

 himself. To my surprise I shortly thereafter saw him about 

 150 yards in advance posting up the side of a stone wall with 

 great speed. Knowing that he had not seen me, and had con- 

 sequently no apprehension of danger, I was curious to know 

 the motive by which he was impelled. I stealthily followed 

 in pursuit, and was interested to observe that he occasionally 

 raised his head in the air as if attracted by the scent of prey. 

 Having apparently measured his distance, he again pressed 

 on with increasing speed, as if impelled by some terrible 

 instinct. Hitherto, although familiar with the movements of 

 the stoat, I was not prepared for the alacrity with which he 

 kept in advance. Latterly he seemed to become desperate 



