THE STOAT, 369 
piercing cry was heard among some underwood, from which issued a poor rabbit, bearing 
with it a Stoat, clinging to its neck. The Stoat, on finding that its actions were observed, 
quitted its prey and ran up a tree. One of the keepers, who witnessed the scene, had not 
his gun with him, and sent his companion to fetch it. Just as he arrived, bearing the 
weapon, the Stoat descended the tree, and running to the rabbit, which had lain as if 
paralyzed on the ground, tried to drag it away, but was stopped by the contents of the 
gun, which involved the Stoat and its victim in a common fate. 
Birds’ nests of all kinds are plundered by this incorrigible poacher, for its quick eye 
and keen nose enable it to discover a nest, be it ever so carefully hidden ; its agile limbs 
and sharp claws give it the power of climbing any tree-trunk, and of clinging to any branch 
which will bear the weight of a nest and eggs ; while its lithe and serpent-like body enables 
it to insinuate itself into any crevice that is sufficiently large to afford ingress and egress 
to the parent birds. The pheasant and partridge are said to be sad sufferers from the 
Stoat, which is mercilessly slain by the keeper with the aid of traps or gun, the former 
being the preferable mode of destroying “vermin.” The traps in which Stoats are to be 
caught are most ingeniously placed in certain tempting “runs” to which the Stoat, being 
a dark-loving animal, is sure to be 
attracted. For several days the 
baits are laid on the traps, which 
are left unset, so that the Stoats 
find out the locality, and think 
that they have fallen upon a most 
hospitable ground. When they 
have accustomed themselves to eat 
the baits with impunity, the keeper 
sets the traps, and immolates the 
hapless visitants. 
When the female Stoat is pro- 
viding for the wants of a young 
family, she forages far and wide for 
her offspring, and lays up the pro- 
duce of her chase in certain cun- 
ningly contrived larders. In a 
wood belonging to Lord Bagot, 
a Stoat mursery was discovered, 
having within it no less than six 
inhabitants, a mother and her five STOAT (Winter Dress). 
young. Their larder was supplied 
with five hares and four rabbits, neither of which had been in the least mangled, with 
the exception of the little wound that had caused their death. In another nest of Stoats 
were found a number of small animals, such as field-mice, birds, and frogs, all packed 
away in a very methodical manner. In two nests which were found in Tollymore 
Park, the Stoats had laid up an abundance of provision. In one of them, there were 
six or seven mice, besides other small animals, all laid with their heads in the same 
direction. In the other nest was a more extensive assortment of dead animals. A 
dozen mice, a young rabbit, and a young hare were laid in the storehouse, together 
with the feathers and tail of a woodcock, showing that even that wary bird had fallen 
a victim to the Stoat. 
Although the Stoatis so formidable an enemy to rats and mice, and destroys annually 
such numbers of these destructive animals, it sometimes happens that the predaceous 
animal finds its intended prey to be more than its match, and is forced ignominiously to yield 
the contest. One of these animals was seen in chase of a rat, which it was following 
by scent, and at a great pace. After a while, the Stoat overtook the rat, and would have 
sprung upon her, had not its purpose been anticipated by a sudden attack from the rat, 
which turned to bay, and fiercely flung herself with open jaws on her pursuer. The Stoat 
was so startled at so unexpected a proceeding, that it fairly turned tail and ran away. 
, BB 
