THE WEASEL. 361 
the act of devouring the bird, which it had already killed. This adventure took place 
at Mansfield, at the end of the month of October. The birds were more than two feet 
from the ground when the attack was made upon them. 
Another Weasel was seen to capture and kill a rook in a somewhat similar manner, 
The rooks had discovered the Weasel in a field, and, after their custom on such occasions, 
had gathered round it, and commenced mobbing it. Suddenly, just as one of the rooks made 
a lower stoop than usual, the Weasel leaped at its tormentor and dashed it to the ground. 
The dissonant cries of the rooks as they scolded the Weasel attracted the attention of a 
horseman who was passing by, who arrived at the spot just as the bird had been killed. 
Tt lay on the ground dead, from a wound in its neck; its murderer having taken shelter 
in a neighbouring hedge. As soon, however, as the horseman withdrew, the Weasel 
emerged from its hiding-place, and dragged the dead rook under the shelter of the 
bushes. 
Although the Weasel proved the victor in this instance, it does not always meet with 
equal success, especially when it matches its mental powers against those of a superior 
kind. The predilection of this ani- 
mal for eggs has already been men- 
tioned, and the Weasel will take 
great pains in order to secure the 
coveted luxury. A gentleman, who 
had discovered a furtive nest made 
by one of his hens in a hedgerow, 
was witness to a curious scene. 
Just as the hen had laid an egg, 
she issued from her nest, cackling 
triumphantly, as is the manner of 
hens upon such occasions. A Wea- 
sel, which had been observed at a 
great distance stretching its neck 
as if watching for its prey, darted 
towards the spot, but just before it 
reached the nest it was anticipated 
by a crow, which seized the egg and 
bore it off in triumph.  Desirous 
of investigating the matter further, 
the proprietor of the plundered fowl 
would not remove her nest, but 
took up his station on the succeeding day, in order to see whether crow or Weasel would 
return to the attack. No sooner had he arrived at his post than he saw the crow 
already perched on a neighbouring tree, and in a very short time the Weasel made 
its appearance also. By degrees the two animals drew nearer to the hen’s nest, and 
as soon as her voice gave the signal, they simultaneously started for the spoil. As 
before, the wings were more than a match for the legs, and the crow again bore off 
the prize. 
The Weasel has been seen to catch and to kill a bunting by creeping quietly towards a 
thistle on which the bird was perching and then to leap suddenly upon it before it could 
use its wings. When it seizes an animal that is likely to make its escape, the Weasel 
flings its body over that of its victim, as if to prevent it from struggling. In single 
combat with a large and powerful rat, the Weasel has but little hope of success unless it 
should be able to attack from behind, as the long chisel-edged teeth of the rat are terrible 
weapons against so small an animal as the Weasel. The modes of attack employed by 
the two animals are of a different cha racter, the rat making a succession of single bites, 
while the Weasel is accustomed to fasten its teeth on the head or neck of its opponent, 
and there to retain its hold until it has drained the blood of its victim. The fore-legs of 
the Weasel are of very great service in such a contest, for when it has fixed its teeth, it 
embraces its opponent firmly in its fore-limbs, and rolling over on its side, holds its 
WEASEL.—Mustéla vulgaris. 
