112 BULLETIN NO. VII. 
not overtake its prey by superior speed, yet the timid hare 
soon took refuge in the hollow of a tree, or in a hole dug by 
the Marmot, or Skunk. Thither it was pursued by the Ermine 
and destroyed, the skin and other remains at the mouth of the 
burrow bearing evidence of the fact. We observed an Ermine, . 
after having captured a hare of the above species, first behead 
it and then drag the body some twenty yards over the fresh 
fallen snow, beneath which it was concealed, and the snow 
lightly pressed down over it; the little prowler displaying 
thereby a habit of which we became aware for the first time 
on that occasion. To avoid a dog that was in close pursuit, it 
mounted a tree and laid itself flat on a limb about twenty feet 
from the ground, from which it was finally shot. We have 
ascertained by successful experiments, repeated more than a 
hundred times, that the Ermine can be employed, in the man- 
ner of the Ferret of Europe, in driving our American rabbit 
from the burrow into which it has retreated. In one instance 
the Ermine employed had been captured only a few days be- 
fore, and its canine teeth were filed in order to prevent its 
destroying the rabbit; a cord was placed around its neck to 
secure its return. It pursued the hare through all the wind- 
ings of its burrow, and forced it to the mouth, where it could 
be taken in a net, or by the hand. In winter, after a snow 
storm, the ruffed grouse has a habit of plunging into the loose 
snow, where itremains at times for one or two days. In this 
passive state the Ermine sometimes detects and destroys it. 
‘‘Notwithstanding all. these mischieveous and destructive | 
habits, itis doubtful whether the Ermine is not rather a bene- 
factor than an enemy to the farmer, ridding his granaries and 
fields of many depredators on the products of his labour, that 
would devour ten times the value of the poultry and eggs 
which, at long and uncertain intervals, it occasionally destroys. 
A mission appears to have been assigned it by Providence to 
lessen the rapidly multiplying number of mice of various spe- 
cies and the smaller rodentia. 
‘‘The White-footed Mouse is destructive to the grains in the 
wheat fields and in the stacks, as well as the nurseries of fruit- 
trees. Le Conte’s Pine Mouse is injurious to the Irish and 
sweet potato crops, causing more to rot by nibbling holes in 
them than it consumes, and Wilson's Meadow-mouse lessens 
our annual product of hay by feeding on the grasses, and by its . 
long and tortuous galleries among their roots. 

