62 CARNIVORES. 



prodigious scuffling and scurrying immediately takes place in the interior ; and 

 after a few minutes, if not frightened by sounds above, the occupants soon begin 

 to bolt in rapid succession at the various exits. Like the other members of its 

 tribe, a ferret almost invariably seizes a rabbit immediately behind the ear. 



The common weasel of Europe (M. vulgaris) is the first of several 

 species, distinguished from the polecats by their smaller size, longer 

 bodies, and the much slighter development of the ridges and crests on their skulls. 

 The difference in the proportionate length of the weasel and the polecat will be 

 made evident by comparing the figure of the skeleton of the former given on 

 p. 46 with that of the latter on p. 58. Moreover, whereas none of the martens or 

 polecats have a winter coat markedly different in colour from that which they 

 wear in summer, the weasels and stoats in northern regions generally or 

 invariably change their summer dress of brown for a white winter garb. 



The common weasel, which ranges over the whole of Europe, Northern and 

 Central Asia, and a large portion of the northern part of America, usually varies 

 from 6 to 8 inches in length from the tip of the snout to the root of the tail ; the 

 tail itself, with the hair at the end, varying from 2 to 2h inches. In colour the 

 upper-parts are usually some shade of mahogany brown in the summer dress, 

 while the throat and under-parts are white, without any tinge of yellow. The 

 outer sides of the limbs are coloured like the back, but it appears that the feet may 

 be either of the same tint as the back or as the under-parts. There is considerable 

 individual variation in the shade of the brown, as there is with regard to the 

 limits of demarcation between the brown and the white areas. The tail is cylin- 

 drical and pointed, with its tip of nearly or exactly the same tint as the back. 

 The female weasel is considerably smaller than the male, and appears to be the 

 animal locally known as the cane. 



In the northern parts of the whole extent of its range the weasel assumes a 

 white dress in winter, although it appears that this change of dress is less regular 

 than in its cousin the stoat, and requires a greater intensity of cold for its produc- 

 tion. This change occurs but rarely in the British Islands. Even in the winter 

 dress, the tip of the tail, although paler than ordinary, retains the reddish brown 

 colour. In North America the weasel turns white in the northern parts of New 

 England and the Adirondack Mountains near New York, but in the latitude of 

 Massachusetts it retains the dark colour throughout the year. 



The weasel, in suitable localities, may be found almost every- 



XmvDXuSi 



where, — in hedgerows, woods, among stones, in water-courses, and 

 along the edges of swamps. Its general food' consists of small creatures, such as 

 mice, rats, small birds, moles, shrews, insects, etc. ; but there is no doubt but 

 that it will occasionally make inroads on poultry, and sometimes attack rabbits 

 and sleeping partridges. The accusations of killing rabbits and hares habitually, 

 which are so frequently levelled against the weasel, should, however, in most cases 

 be transferred to the stoat. Indeed, from the war incessantly waged by the weasel 

 against rats, mice, and voles of all kinds, it ought to be protected by the farmer, if 

 not also by the gamekeeper, rather than ruthlessly destroyed whenever encountered. 

 In spite, however, of these services, there is no doubt that the weasel does sometimes 

 take to rabbit-hunting in good earnest ; and several will combine together in 



