CHAPTER III. 



WICKED WEASELS. 



THOUGH not generally known to farmers and poultry- 

 raisers, there are two kinds of weasels found here, and I 

 am disposed to believe that one is as seldom in mischief 

 as its larger cousin is out of it. For a long time I did 

 not recognize any difference between the many weasels 

 that I made note of. They varied greatly in size, but 

 not otherwise. In my field-notes, it is true, I find dis- 

 tinctions made, under such headings as " little " or " short- 

 tailed " weasels, to distinguish certain individuals from 

 others that were typical examples of the commoner wea- 

 sel or ermine. It appears that this difference in size is of 

 "specific value," as the systematists have it, and what 

 shall follow refers to the "little weasel," a beautiful 

 creature, in color brown above and white as snow be- 

 neath, and with a little pointed tail of a uniform brown 

 color. This little weasel is not nearly so common as the 

 ermine. 



The true ermine, or large weasel, is well known every- 

 where, and needs no further mention, except to say that 

 in New Jersey it very seldom turns white ; and to ques- 

 tion the statement of Audubon that in autumn they do 

 not remain together, and do not hunt in company. I am 

 fully convinced that the individuals of a family, at least, 

 frequently, if not habitually, remain together until March 

 or April of the ensuing year, when they separate. In 



