THE MARTENS, POLECATS, AND WEASELS 



649 



The common polecat, whose habits will in the main serve to illustrate those of 

 the other species, is chiefly a nocturnal animal, lying concealed during the day in 

 woods, in fox or rabbit holes, woodstacks, or among rocks, and issuing forth at even- 

 ing for its devastations. In winter it frequently seeks shelter in old farm buildings 

 or outhouses. It is far less arboreal in its habits than the martens, and is also less 

 active in its ways. The polecat is a deadly enemy to hares, rabbits, and partridges, 

 and equally destructive to all kinds of domestic poultry, from the pigeon to the tur- 

 key; while in addition to the smaller Mammals and birds, it will consume eggs, liz- 

 ards, snakes, and frogs. It is stated on good authority that it also carries away its 

 food to its lair; this would be obviously impossible with such large birds as geese 



THE POLECAT. 

 (One-third natural size.) 



and turkeys, which are, perhaps, merely killed for that insatiable thirst for blood, 

 which is its characteristic. Indeed, wherever a polecat gains access to a poultry 

 house, the owner will be pretty sure to find the majority of the occupants lying dead 

 in the morning. The polecat is, moreover, a no less deadly enemy to the game pre- 

 server; the authors of Bell's British Quadrupeds remarking that " the destruction 

 which it occasions among the eggs and young of pheasants and partridges, young hares 

 and rabbits, is incalculable; and, in the latter case particularly, it follows these animals 

 into their burrows with such facility that a single family of polecats would shortly 

 produce a sensible diminution in numbers among the denizens of a whole warren. ' ' 

 Fortunately, however, of late years its numbers have been vastly diminished, 

 and it is now chiefly confined to regions with thick woods affording it comparatively 



