236 THE WEASEL. 



up the track with surprising assiduity. The rabbit broke cover once 

 more, but it was for the last time ; for scarcely had it proceeded a 

 dozen yards ere I saw that all was over. It stopped short and 

 panted for breath, as though its heart would have burst through its 

 ribs ; and then it began to squeal most piteously. It never took 

 another step to save its life, but sat down on the grass, still continu- 

 ing its wailing. The weasel bolted from the bushes, and jumped 

 upon the rabbit's back, inflicting a death-wound on its prey by biting 

 it just behind the ear. I was sitting quite still at the time, and could 

 easily have despatched either the rabbit or the weasel, but I did not 

 interfere until the affair was concluded, and then I took the rabbit 

 for my share, and I allowed the weasel to go in search of another 

 supper, when and where it might think fit. 



This quadruped, as I have already stated, will plunder the nests 

 of pheasants and of partridges ; and it must often surprise and kill 

 many a Hanoverian rat, whilst the latter is going on the same nox- 

 ious errand as itself. But I find it no easy matter to watch a bird's 

 nest in the grass, so as to get a sight of the plunderer; indeed, I 

 cannot say that I ever saw a weasel in the act of stealing eggs. 



One morning in September last, the gardener heard a rustling 

 amongst some cabbages in an orchard, and on arriving cautiously at 

 the place, he saw a weasel, and he managed to get his foot upon it 

 and to kill it, whilst it was in close contact with a favourite sheldrake. 

 He brought them both to me. Upon examining the bird, I found 

 that the weasel had fixed its teeth into its cheek ; but the wound did 

 not prove mortal, for the sheldrake is now in perfect health and 

 vigour. 



Notwithstanding these predatory acts on the part of the weasel, I 

 would recommend the lord of the manor to pause awhile ere he con- 

 demn this bold little quadruped to extermination. I have yet some- 

 thing to say in its favour; but, before I undertake its defence, I 

 must in fairness allow that certain parts of the farmer's property, 

 at times, are not exempt from the rapacious attacks of the weasel. 



Poultry the farmer's pride and his wife's delight is undoubtedly 

 exposed to have its numbers thinned by this animal. Still, when we 

 reflect that fowls of all descriptions stray through fields haunted by 

 the weasel, with scarcely any decrease of their numbers, we may 



