232 THE WEASEL. 



tion ; whilst these destroyers of corn seem to be put to their last 

 shifts, if you may judge by the extraordinary kind of whining which 

 goes on amongst them, and by the attempts which they make to bolt 

 from the invaded premises. No Irishman ever shunned the hated 

 presence of Dutch William in the Emerald Isle with greater marks 

 of horror than those which rats betray when a weasel comes unex- 

 pectedly amongst them. One only regrets that this stranger rat did 

 not meet a hungry weasel on its first landing in our country ; for, 

 although the indigenous English black rat was known to be far too 

 fond of self, still it was by no means so fierce and rapacious as the 

 German newcomer at least I have always heard my father say so ; 

 but I cannot state anything from actual experience, as the old English 

 rat has entirely disappeared from these parts. 



But, of all people in the land, our gardeners have most reason to 

 protect the weasel. They have not one single word of complaint 

 against it not even for disturbing the soil of the flower-beds. 

 Having no game to encourage, nor fowls to fatten, they may safely 

 say to it, " Come hither, little benefactor, and take up thy abode 

 amongst us. We will give shelter to thy young ones, and protection 

 to thyself; and we shall be always glad to see thee." And fortunate, 

 indeed, are those horticultural inclosures which can boast the pre- 

 sence of a weasel ; for neither mouse, nor rat, nor mole, can carry on 

 their projects with impunity whilst the weasel stands sentinel over 

 the garden. 



Ordinary, and of little cost, are the apartments required for it. A 

 cart load of rough stones or of damaged bricks, heaped up in some 

 sequestered corner, free from dogs, will be all that it wants for a safe 

 retreat and a pleasant dwelling. Although the weasel generally hunts 

 for food during the night, still it is by no means indolent in the day- 

 time, if not harassed by dogs or terrified with the report of guns. 

 When a warm and sunny morning invites you to sit down in some 

 secluded spot, you can scarcely fail to have an interesting sight of the 

 weasel. Whilst all is still around you, it may be seen coming out of 

 a hole in the ground, with its head particularly erect at the time ; and 

 it starts and stops at intervals, as though it were afraid to advance. 

 On these occasions it is often seen with a mouse in its mouth, or with 

 a rat which it has surprised and brought out of its hiding-place in the 



