423 



very li 111 lied and wondrous chauges iu llieir political 

 coals but with some ot vvLom sucL change was ouly 

 on the aurlace, as their hearts were always loyal to old, 

 true and tried Irieuds f torn whom they 8ei>aruted from 

 necessity, to join the "bread and butter brigade." 

 Some Weasels change their coats, and, iu winter, when 

 snow covers the ground, they are white, but in summer 

 brown. Probably such changes also enable these 

 animals to obtain more easily the necessary livelihood. 

 Uowever, in any dress, Weasels always carry death and 

 destruction to animal life about them. Their homes 

 are frequently to be found in a decayed log, tree 

 stump, under rocks, about old buildings, etc. 



HUNTS HIS PIlliY liY SCENT. 



Ooncerning his power of hunting his prey by scent, 

 eminent authorities are positive that he does track 

 quarry in this manner. 



Mr. Uogg, in London Magazine, describes how, in De- 

 cember, 18;il, he observed a Stout hunting in this style. 



'I was an eye witness to the I'lirl i>r a Stout being able tu 

 pursue Us prey on scent." 



Coues writes of it as follows: 



"Swift and sure footed he makes open chase and runs down 

 his prey; keen of scent he tracks them." 



DESTROYS POULTRY. 



The poultry yard Is frequently visited and his apparently In- 

 satiable desire for rapine Is most clearly shown while on these 

 visits. One chicken will satisfy his appetite, but after that Is 

 gratified he does not leave; he kills and slays without mercy 

 all the remainder of the poor frightened chickens, until there 

 are none left, and not until then does he leave the scene of 

 carnage. 



He sucks the eggs also, leaving, In some Instances, the un- 

 lucky farmer, who has unwillingly and unwittingly been his 



