66 CARNIVORES. 



assume a pied and mottled appearance, and the change now commenced progresses 

 to its termination with great rapidity. In early spring, the period for the reversal 

 of this process, the changing back from the white coat of winter to the brown 

 summer coat is determined by the same cause — the presence or absence of snow." 

 These arguments appear conclusive that the change is really due to the necessity 

 of the colour of the animal being adapted to its external surroundings ; the change 

 in captivity being owing to the influence of hereditary habits, which cannot be 

 overcome in the short period during which the animals are under observation. 



In habits the stoat is in general very similar to the weasel, 

 Habits 



although from its larger size and greater strength it more com- 

 monly attacks larger animals, such as hares, rabbits, and poultry, than its 

 smaller relatives. In America it is very fond of the ruffed grouse, and will often 

 overcome the large northern hare ; while its destruction of poultry is proved by a 

 statement of Audubon to the effect that one has been known in a single night to 

 slay upwards of forty well-grown fowls. When food is abundant, it is stated that 

 the stoat only sucks the blood or eats the brains of its victims, leaving the flesh 

 untouched. The late Richard Jefferies states that these animals usually hunt 

 in couples, although occasionally three may be seen together; and that their 

 range of destruction seems only to be limited by their strength. 



The stoat hunts its prey both by day and by night, and is fully as good a 

 climber as the weasel. Although it cannot in any way be considered an aquatic 

 animal, there is good evidence to show that it is an excellent swimmer, and will, 

 when occasion arises, take readily to the water. Its favourite haunts appear to 

 be stony places and thickets, which secure it a safe refuge from its foes ; and it 

 is also very partial to patches of impenetrable gorse, while it will sometimes take 

 up its abode in a deserted rabbit burrow. In spite of its destructiveness to 

 poultry and game of all kinds there can be no doubt that from the number of 

 rats, mice, and voles it consumes, the stoat is a benefactor to the farmer ; and it 

 is a remarkable fact that, whenever unusual numbers of any of the rodents above 

 mentioned have appeared in any district, they have almost invariably been 

 followed by a large assemblage of stoats and weasels who wage war upon them. 

 It is almost superfluous to add that the stoat, when angered, emits a most 

 noisome and penetrating smell. 



The young in England are generally produced during the months of April 

 and May, in a nest constructed in a hole in some dry bank. Prof. Bell states that 

 the usual number of young in a litter is five ; Dr. Coues states that the number 

 may vary from a pair to as many as a dozen, although five or six may be taken as 

 the average. In America the stoat has occasionally been employed in the same 

 manner as the ferret for rabbit-catching, and appears to take to the work readily. 

 In most parts of England stoats seem to be far less common than weasels, although 

 the reverse is stated to be the case in Scotland. 



The fur of such individuals as assume in Britain the white winter dress is 

 always far inferior in quality to that of skins obtained from more northerly 

 regions ; the inferiority consisting in the shorter and thinner hairs, and the less 

 pure and bright tint of the whole pelage. The importation of ermine skins into 

 England was formerly very large, more than 105,000 having been landed in the 



